Tunku Ismail can help reshape country's football - Khairy

Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim, as the new president of Football Association of Malaysia (FAM), will help reshape the country's football scene, says Youth and Sports Minister Khairy Jamaluddin.

He said it could be seen through the vision and mission described by the Tunku Mahkota of Johor during his campaign for the country's top hot seat (football).

"I congratulate the Tunku Mahkota of Johor on his victory as the FAM president. I'm confident of his vision, and more importantly, his capacity to shape the future of football in the country," Khairy told Bernama today.

He was speaking to reporters after appearing as panel-member of a talk titled 'Delivering Promises: The Malaysian Case Study' at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre, today.

Tunku Ismail won the FAM president's post unopposed after his challenger Tan Sri Annuar Musa, the former Kelantan Football Association president, decided to withdraw from the race.

Annuar announced the decision in a special press conference held at the Parliament lobby today.

Commenting further, Khairy hoped Tunku Ismail would also help out with the country's football development programme under Youth and Sports Ministry.

However, according to FAM secretary-general, Datuk Hamidin Mohd Amin, the announcement (Tunku Ismail as president) would only be made on Saturday at the 53rd FAM Congress. - BERNAMA