Ministers, deputies barred from holding posts in sports associations

Natural resources and environmental sustainability minister Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad withdraws from the race for the Kuala Lumpur Football Association presidency.

(FMT) – Members of the government, including Cabinet ministers and their deputies, have been barred from holding posts in sports associations.

Natural resources and environmental sustainability minister Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad said this was decided by the Cabinet at its weekly meeting today.

“Therefore, I am withdrawing from the race for the Kuala Lumpur Football Association (KLFA) presidency,” the Setiawangsa MP said in a post on X.

Last week, it was reported that communications minister Fahmi Fadzil was running against his party colleague, Nik Nazmi, for the KLFA top post.

Fahmi, who is Lembah Pantai MP, made the announcement in a TikTok post and also named members of his “team”, which included Azman Abidin, the political secretary to Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, who will contest for the post of KLFA secretary.

Last week, former Umno information chief Shahril Hamdan expressed hope of seeing fewer sports associations headed by politicians or former politicians, saying it was particularly prevalent now.

Former youth and sports minister Khairy Jamaluddin said these bodies are usually headed by political or corporate figures instead of sportsmen because of the task of raising funds for the organisations.

Meanwhile, Nik Nazmi said he remains committed to helping the KLFA’s efforts in developing a healthy football ecosystem and supporting KL City Football Club.

The PKR vice-president said he will continue to be the patron of Setiawangsa Rangers, the football club he founded in 2018 which is affiliated with KLFA.