Ramsamy Wants Heads Of Saifuddin Hannah Yeoh To Roll In Fam S Naturalisation Scandal

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THE Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) insists that the seven players in the country’s Harimau Malaya squad were naturalised Malaysian citizens.
However, there is a world of difference between their actual birthplaces and the “doctored” documents allegedly submitted to the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA).
How then can the imposition of fines on FAM and the seven players – along with their suspension – be dismissed as a mere technicality?
In other words, FAM is claiming that the penalties were due to procedural issues rather than serious wrongdoing.

Image credit: ASEAN FOOTBALL/Facebook 
But FIFA is not an ordinary football body. It is an institution with an international reputation to safeguard.
Why would such a global authority make an allegation as serious as document tampering unless it had compelling evidence?
Unforgivable blunder
Was FAM in such a hurry to submit the paperwork that it bypassed the necessary verification with the Home Ministry?
Yet Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail has the temerity to claim that the naturalisation process was in order. Was he trying to protect FAM’s reputation or concealing the truth about the players’ actual origins and birthplaces?
The evidence seems to suggest that the seven players were foreigners who may not have properly completed the naturalisation process. To meet FIFA’s registration deadline, the documents were allegedly falsified.

If this is indeed the case, FAM officials involved must tender their resignations immediately. The seven foreign players should be deported to their countries of origin.
Saifuddin should also step down as should Youth and Sports Minister Hannah Yeoh who appeared completely unaware of what was transpiring under her watch.
Malaysia under Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim seems desperate to carve out an international image. Yet in the wake of this FAM scandal, PMX remains as quiet as a mouse.
To date, the Malaysian public has not received any assurance of an impartial investigation into how Malaysia’s name – and that of its premier football body – has been sullied by FIFA’s exposure.
Former DAP stalwart and Penang deputy chief minister II Prof Ramasamy Palanisamy is chairman of the United Rights of Malaysian Party (Urimai) interim council.
The views expressed are solely of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of  MMKtT.
- Focus Malaysia.

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