KUALA LUMPUR – Communications and Digital Minister Fahmi Fadzil has agreed to become the patron of Kuala Lumpur City FC after being made the offer by Kuala Lumpur Football Association (KLFA) president Khalid Abdul Samad today.
Confirming the matter, Fahmi, who is also MP for Lembah Pantai, said he had no problems being the patron of the City Boys.
“That is correct… as a member of Parliament in Kuala Lumpur, I have no obstacles to be the patron of this football club,” he said briefly when contacted.
Meanwhile, Khalid said Fahmi, who was met in Parliament today, however, set a condition before deciding to accept the invitation.
“I have received confirmation from Fahmi to be the patron of the KL City team, on the condition that KL City cannot get sponsorship from any telecommunications company that is currently under his ministry.
“This is because he does not want to be obligated to the company for contributing to or helping KL City... so what we need is someone respected as a patron and we will try to get other sponsorships,” he said at a press conference at the Kuala Lumpur Football Stadium today.
Previously, Arau MP Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim was appointed as the patron of KL City in August last year, after former communications and multimedia minister Tan Sri Annuar Musa resigned from the position.
In the meantime, Khalid said he had met with Kuala Lumpur Mayor Datuk Seri Kamarulzaman Mat Salleh to request consideration to increase the allocation for the association from RM5 million to RM10 million a year.
He said so far, the budget expenditure by KLFA is about RM16 million to RM18 million for the development of the KL City squad, and the teams under its auspices as well as for management of the association.
“I have met the mayor of Kuala Lumpur, he is considering my request for a RM10 million allocation even though it is still far lower than what we spend.
“We also agreed to be an ambassador of Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) and any DBKL initiative for this year, including KL City leading DBKL’s Kuala Lumpur Towards a Low Carbon City campaign as a brand,” he said.
He said the collaboration will also open up opportunities for electric-vehicle manufacturing companies to be sponsors in line with DBKL’s low carbon city campaign. – Bernama, June 7, 2023
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