Azmin quits as FAS president, aims parting shot at exco lineup

NST

SHAH ALAM: Selangor Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Azmin Ali earlier today announced his resignation as the Selangor Football Association (FAS) president.

He cited disappointment with the attitude and culture practiced by FAS exco lineup as among the chief reasons for his resignation.

In a statement from the MB's office, Azmin said Selangor state government exco member Amirudin Shari is also stepping down as FAS team manager.

"The FAS executive committee, through an Extraordinary Congress in Dec 2014, had unanimously agreed to appoint me as the new FAS president, and I welcomed this appointment with the hope of making positive changes in its management as well as the development of state football.

"Amirudin Shari, in his capacity as a state exco member in charge of Youth Development and Sports, was also appointed as the state football team manager to reinforce the quality of the sports, including the setup of Akademi Merah Kuning, which is aimed at polishing the talents of young footballers in Selangor.

"We had been working hard to provide financial funding to these efforts and to ensure the welfare of Selangor football players through transparent and prudent financial management.

"Unfortunately, during our two years with FAS, we did not see the readiness of the FAS exco to support the efforts towards positive changes. The association exco members continued with their old attitude and culture of excessive politics, old-fashioned way of doing things, and over dependency on subsidy mentality," said Azmin.

In the statement, Azmin also claimed that FAS exco had failed to produce a strategic plan to manage the football association, including a professional administration organisation as recommended by the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM).

He claimed the FAS exco continued to wallow in irresponsible politicking to the frustration of Selangor folk, especially its football fans.

"Thus, Amirudin and I made the decision to no longer be with an organisation which is not committed to the agenda of change towards returning Selangor football to its glory days."

In ending the statement, Azmin said the state government would continue to support football development in Selangor, but through new ways that would be decided later.

He said Selangor football fans can be rest assured that their glory days can be achieved through management that is clean and with integrity.

The FAS management fiasco, which had been snowballing over the past few months, recently received the attention of the Raja Muda of Selangor Tengku Amir Shah.

Tengku Amir had via his official Instagram account last Friday suggested for the current FAS exco lineup "to respectfully move aside" if they are not able to improve the Red Giants' situation.