KUALA LUMPUR — The Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) has urged its state affiliates to stop making excuses and take a more proactive approach to developing grassroots football programmes.
The directive follows a review by the governing body’s newly formed executive committee, which found that several state affiliates had conducted few or no development programmes over the past year.
Newly elected FAM president Datuk Joehari Mohd Ayob stressed that state affiliates must step out of their comfort zones and collaborate more closely with their respective state governments to ensure these programmes are implemented successfully.
Joehari also announced that FAM will introduce an updated grassroots development module, which all state affiliates will be required to follow.
“We found that grassroots development programmes have been lacking over the past year, despite our continuous efforts to encourage state affiliates to fulfil their responsibilities. We are taking this matter very seriously, and the states must play their part according to the modules we provide.
“Our state affiliates should not be using a lack of funds as an excuse for inaction. They have a duty to find ways to allocate sufficient resources to carry out these programmes.
“To ensure success, state affiliates should build strong partnerships with their respective state governments instead of relying solely on financial support from FAM. We have been providing as much assistance as possible, and now it is time for the affiliates to step up.
“If our development programmes are weak, it will have long-term consequences for the national team, and we cannot allow that to happen.
“I expect to see progress this year, and we will be firm with any affiliates that fail to comply with our guidelines and requirements,” Joehari said during a press conference at an Iftar event yesterday.
Of FAM’s 20 affiliates—14 of which are state affiliates—it is understood that only Johor, Selangor, Terengganu, Kedah, Penang, Sabah, Sarawak, Negeri Sembilan, and Kuala Lumpur are actively conducting grassroots development programmes.
FAM reportedly contributes approximately RM5 million annually to all state affiliates for grassroots development.
Additionally, FAM received around US$7.6 million (RM33 million) from FIFA’s Forward Development Programme between 2016 and 2022, according to FIFA’s Forward Programme report released in 2023.
The report for 2024 has yet to be published. — March 21, 2025