PETALING JAYA — Newly elected Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) president Datuk Ab Ghani Hassan is set to step down as Malaysian Football League (MFL) president by the end of September, with a successor already identified to take over the role.
Ab Ghani said he wanted to complete the transition as soon as possible, as he could not effectively focus on both organisations while MFL continued to face several issues requiring attention.
“If possible, I want to finish by the end of this month. God willing, if possible. Because I cannot leave the position without a president,” he told reporters at a press conference following FAM’s extraordinary congress and executive committee election at the Hilton Hotel here today.
He said discussions were underway to identify his replacement, although the candidate had yet to be formally discussed or approved by the MFL leadership.
“At the moment, my colleagues and I are also making sure we identify who will take over from me as MFL president and occupy the number two vice-president’s seat in MFL,” he said.
Asked whether a candidate had already been identified, Ab Ghani said: “Yes, there is already a candidate, but it has not been discussed.”
He declined to comment on speculation linking the position to Malaysia Karate Federation (Makaf) president and Olympic Council of Malaysia deputy president Datuk Wira Nur Azmi Ahmad, saying the appointment would be determined by the MFL leadership.
“As for what people say outside, I have no comment. Whoever they say, whoever is going to be appointed, I cannot comment because that is not from me. It is from the MFL leadership itself,” he said.
Turning to his new role at FAM, Ab Ghani said he would first assess the association’s internal operations before deciding on any governance changes.
He stressed that he needed to understand the organisation’s existing structure and challenges before determining what needed to be improved.
“For me, let me enter the office first. I need to enter the office first because I also want to know what is inside FAM. I cannot comment now because I will meet the secretary-general, speak to him, and also meet all the HODs in FAM.
“From there, I will see the developments and what can be done in terms of the governance of FAM,” he said.
Ab Ghani acknowledged that the new leadership would inevitably be compared with previous administrations but said its priority should be addressing weaknesses and improving Malaysian football.
“That is normal. People will compare us. We cannot do anything about that,” he said.
“But the important thing is that we are confident that we can do something good and continue doing it for the good of Malaysian football, not to gain a name, but for the good of Malaysian football itself.”
Ab Ghani was elected FAM president after defeating his sole challenger, Selangor Football Association (FAS) deputy president Datuk Seri Shahril Mokhtar, by a 20-5 vote margin.
The 63-year-old former Negeri Sembilan centre-forward secured the backing of the majority of FAM affiliates at the extraordinary congress to lead the national football governing body for the 2025-2029 term.
Ab Ghani assumes leadership at a crucial juncture for Malaysian football, with his administration facing the task of strengthening FAM’s governance and development while overseeing the national team’s international ambitions. — September 17, 2026