Tony Fernandes hints at FAM top post

"Without doubt, I will be involved in football in some way or form. I have been watching Malaysian football since I was five years old at Merdeka Cup tournaments. And if I can help, of course I will help.

"It's really up to the association (FAM) on how they want me to help," he told reporters at an AirAsia appreciation ceremony to all the winners of medals at the Paralympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, last month.

Tony said he was a big fan of football and would use his past experience with English Premier League club Queens Park Rangers to develop national football.

READ: Tony Fernandes gets nod from netizens to lead FAM

"I love football..it's a long time to go and let's see if the people want me and let see if I can contribute... It does not have to be (as) FAM President.

"There are many other roles, but if I am asked to help Malaysian football, I will," he added.

The number one post in FAM would be vacated by Tengku Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah since he would not be defending the post at the new FAM election which is expected to take place by the middle of next year.

Earlier, AirAsia presented free flights to the winners at the Paralympic Games in a ceremony at the Asian Aviation Centre of Excellence here, today.

"Once again ASEAN athletes have made the region proud by showing that we can be great challengers at the global level," said Tony.

Three national gold medal winners, Mohamad Ridzuan Mohamad Puzi in the T36 100-metre (cerebral palsy), Muhammad Ziyad Zolkefli, F20 shot put (learning disability) and Abdul Latif Romly T20 long jump event (learning disability) were among the gold medal winners in South East Asia and would fly free for life.

The country's sole bronze medal winner, Siti Noor Radiah in the T20 women's long jump (learning disability) on her part, received free flights for three years.

All the 12 gold medal winners, seven silver medal winners and 12 bronze medal winners from South East Asia received free flights from AirAsia.

Other than Malaysia, also receiving rewards from Air Asia were Paralympic athletes from Thailand, Singapore and Vietnam.

The medal winners were also given the AirAsia gold, silver and bronze special edition BIG card to enable them to fly to more than 120 destinations in the AirAsia and AirAsia X flights network including in Asia, Australia, Middle East and Africa.