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SNAPSHOT | New FAM chief regrets 'heritage' players scandal, vows no repeat; AG to liaise with Nepal on 55 missing M'sians
KINI SNAPSHOT | What’s going on in the news today, with updates at 9am, 2pm, 6pm, and 9pm.
6pm
‘Heritage’ players
Newly minted...
KINI SNAPSHOT | What’s going on in the news today, with updates at 9am, 2pm, 6pm, and 9pm.
6pm
’Heritage’ players
Newly minted Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) president Ab Ghani Hassan issued a public apology to local football fans over the citizenship scandal involving seven foreign players, pledging that such an episode will not recur under his leadership.
According to The Star, Ghani also said that the passport status of the “heritage” players involved will be discussed with Home Minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail as matters concerning citizenship and passport issuance lie outside FAM’s jurisdiction./file/publisher-c1a3f893382d2b2f8a9aa22a654d9c97/2025/12/22640edb286bcebcbdd9ad99bffe4f63.jpg "Heritage’ players FIFA suspended 7 seven players Harimau Malaya for having faulty document and not being born in Malaysia case issue generic 191225")
In March, the Court of Arbitration for Sport upheld the International Federation of Association Football’s (Fifa) findings that seven Harimau Malaya players were allowed to play for the national team via forged citizenship documents.
READ MORE: COMMENT | Lies, more damned lies after the citizenship charade got exposed
Nepal disaster
The attorney-general has been instructed to hold further discussions as soon as possible with Nepalese authorities to expedite the verification process of 55 Malaysians who remain unaccounted for following the floods and landslides in Nepal.
Government spokesperson Fahmi Fadzil told a post-cabinet press conference today that Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim had informed the cabinet that his Nepalese counterpart had agreed to help Malaysia speed up the process.
Fahmi added that the matter involves several legal and court aspects.
READ MORE: Nepal disaster: M'sian families fear dwindling chances of finding missing loved ones alive
Rohingya
Fahmi also said that after the first phase of the voluntary repatriation of 1,476 Myanmar refugees yesterday, another 3,524 will be sent back in the second phase.
/file/attachments/orphans/fahmi1_288797.png "Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil on Kerusi Biru Podcast 230926")
The communications minister said Myanmar authorities had identified the repatriated refugees in yesterday’s operation, and the Malaysian Foreign Ministry was notified of the names in an Aug 13 diplomatic note.
He added that the prime minister will discuss the matter with Myanmar authorities soon so more refugees can be returned even after the second phase is completed.
READ MORE: COMMENT | M'sia must halt planned return of 1,476 Myanmar refugees to danger
Previously at 2pm | S'gor MBI, subsidiary yet to provide documents on parking deal - group; 'no proof of foul play in chopper crash'
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Political interference corrodes sport's integrity. FIFA's decision to suspend Balogun's red-card ban after President Trump's intervention drew widespread condemnation; UEFA called it "unprecedented, incomprehensible and unjustifiable," and Klopp said, "This is our sport, not theirs." Malaysia faces a parallel governance failure. The Court of Arbitration for Sport found that FAM submitted falsified documents to naturalise seven players with no Malaysian ancestry. The Enforcement Agency Integrity Commission found citizenship approvals were processed irregularly and within an "extremely short period," with failures in entry permits, security screenings and renunciation of prior citizenship. The Ministry of Home Affairs (KDN) is the institutional gateway through which this passed. As the ministry responsible for citizenship, immigration and law enforcement, its involvement raises serious questions: were approvals pushed through in coordination with football officials to achieve what proper procedures could not? The Yang di-Pertuan Agong has been clear that corruption is a betrayal of the nation. This scandal sits at the intersection of that principle — misuse of state authority, fabricated official records and subordination of legal process to athletic ambition. Integrity is the condition of sport's legitimacy. Malaysia's footballing renaissance, if built on falsified ancestry and accelerated citizenship, is not a renaissance. It is a shortcut — and no trophy can offset its cost.
Malaysia fell short in the FIFA ASEAN Cup after thrashing Singapore 6-0, at the Si Jalak Harupat Stadium in Bandung, Indonesia. Bergson Da Silva, from JDT, scored a hatrick with Josue, Syahir, and Wilkin on the score sheet. Singapore with one of their South Korean-born midfielder, Song, almost scored but didn't. Thank God for the excellent Malaysian goalkeeper, that kept another clean sheet. Coach and manager, Tan Cheng Hoe (TCH) was a tad bit disappointed as Malaysia’s goal difference came up short against the Indonesians that managed to top the group. Nevertheless, he was emphatic with Malaysia's scoreline and was indeed happy with Harimau Malaya's performance. Malaysia will meet Vietnam in the bronze final. Thailand and Indonesia will square out in the Championship final .
Some people treat the breaking of a national constitution like you accidentally knock down somebody's glass. Just apologise, sweep away the glass shards and move on.
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