Match fixing among factors in deterioration of football - Khairy

Match-fixing is one of the factors contributing towards the deterioration in the performance of the national football team.

Youth and Sports Minister Khairy Jamaluddin Abu Bakar told Dewan Rakyat that various problems cropped up with match-fixing including gamblings, extortions and offering bribes to players.

"Match-fixing has been shackling national football since several years ago but continuous effort is being carried out by the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM), Malaysian Anti Corruption Commission (MACC) and the Royal Malaysian Police (PDRM) with the ministry to combat the scrouge.

"Although, we cannot eradicate the problem, we have been able to reduce it as is apparent in reports relating to offers to players," he said when winding up on the 2016 Supply Bill for his ministry.

Khairy Jamaluddin, who was replying to a supplementary question from Datuk Zainuddin Ismail (BN-Jelebu) on the issue, said match-fixing proliferated because many players dared not furnish proof as the bookies threatened to hurt them and their families.

Khairy Jamaluddin, who is also Rembau Member of Parliament, said the symptom was also hard to detect because match-fixing did not involve many quarters and were done in high secrecy.

However, he said several suspects and syndicates had been identified and were being monitored by MACC and PDRM.

He said every state football associations had also been directed to set up special committees on integrity involving MACC and PDRM.

"The committee will enable any player who is approached by a bookie to lodge a discreet complaint to ensure their safety.

"We have taken serious action to overcome match-fixing and despite not being able to eradicate it, there is positive development," he said.

Answering Zainuddin's question on the privatisation of the Malaysian League, Khairy said it was a normal practice in many countries with a professional football league such as England, which was handled by the English Premier League (EPL).

"The privatisation move hopefully can draw more sponsorships which can be distributed equally among the teams taking part in the league," he said.