Khairy hands over controversial FAM pendrive to MACC
Rahimah Abdullah
September 2, 2016 12:31 MYT
September 2, 2016 12:31 MYT
Khairy showing the pendrive to media members at the foyer of MACC headquarters in Putrajaya here today. - Bernamapic
Youth and Sports Minister, Khairy Jamaluddin Abu Bakar today handed over the pendrive alleged to contain information on malpractices in the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) to the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC).
Khairy, who is also Barisan Nasional Youth chairman, arrived at the MACC headquarters here around 11.20 am and handed over the pendrive and a copy of the 279-page report contained in it to MACC Investigation Director Datuk Azam Baki.
Speaking to the media later, Khairy said the pendrive and the document handed over were the originals as received by him from the Tunku Mahkota of Johor, Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim on Aug 26.
He stressed that he has never made any confirmation that the content of the pendrive had any link to certain individuals in FAM or whether there were any elements of wrongdoings in it or not.
"The pendrive has become evidence material and I leave it entirely to the MACC as the responsible agency with regard to corruptions, to investigate," said Khairy.
Reiterating his statement that the pendrive content was only about the technical aspects of Malaysian football, Khairy said he was prepared to give a statement (to the MACC) if required.
At the same time, Khairy said he had asked the MACC to reveal the content of the pendrive, whether there were wrongdoings or not, after the commission had completed its investigation.
"As this case is of public interest and various assumptions have been made on the content of the pendrive, I have suggested to the MACC to make it public.
"The MACC has asked me to give them some time to thoroughly study the content and to complete the investigation before making it public," he added.
Khairy said, after perusing each of the 279 pages, he decided to make a report with the MACC in the interest of the public, as some have started making assumptions that there were wrongdoings in the FAM, as alleged.
Khairy said, during his meeting with TMJ, the owner of the Johor Darul Ta'zim (JDT) football club had left it to him to take further action.
"TMJ was very keen to give it (content) to me... he wanted me to read it and do what is necessary after that.
"He said he doesn't want to have it in his possesion and he said, I want you to read it, do what you want to do with it," he added.
Khairy also indicated that a meeting would be held with FAM to discuss technical issues of the national football-governing body that were raised in the pendrive content.
Also mentioned in the pendrive were FAM's structure, football development at the grassroots level, and coaching and development in women's football which he said, were important issues to be raised with FAM.