KUALA LUMPUR – The Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) is expected to appoint Noor Azman Rahman as the new secretary-general this week, replacing Mohd Saifuddin Abu Bakar.
According to a source within the fraternity, Azman, who is the former vice president of Melaka United Football Association (Musa), was selected from the shortlist by FAM president Datuk Hamidin Mohd Amin.
“The announcement is expected to be made soon by FAM,” the source told The Vibes today.
Among the other names shortlisted were current FAM assistant secretary-general Abang Zulkarnain Abang Abdurahman and FAM head of finance Saeidahtun Abdullah.
Azman was also the former secretary-general of Musa from 2015 to 2018, as well as being appointed to FAM’s futsal and beach football committee from 2013 to 2018.
He was also appointed as special officer to the president of the Malaysian Football League (MFL).
Yesterday, Saifuddin’s resignation was accepted by FAM during the association’s executive committee meeting for the 2021-2025 term.
Following his resignation, Saifuddin would be resuming his role as match commissioner for the International Federation of Association Football and Asia Football Confederation.
Saifuddin only spent a year in the secretary-general role after taking over from Stuart Ramalingam, who left to join MFL as its chief executive officer.
Among the accomplishments done by Saifuddin during his stint at FAM was organising the 2023 Asian Cup qualification at the Bukit Jalil National Stadium, which saw the national team qualify for the tournament for the first time on merit.
Saifuddin joined FAM in 1993 when he held the role of Competition Department head until 2004 before ascending to the assistant secretary-general position from 2007 to 2009.
Meanwhile, efforts to contact Hamidin for comments remain futile. – The Vibes, August 24, 2022