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Hassan and Mokhtar vie for FAM presidency after Hamidin withdraws

Two leading football administrators are now in contention for the Football Association of Malaysia presidency following the withdrawal of incumbent Hamidin Amin. Ab Ghani Hassan, who leads the Malaysian Football League, and Shahril Mokhtar, deputy president of the Football Association of Singapore, have emerged as frontrunners in the closely watched race.

LSN Malaysia · 3 September 2026

Hassan and Mokhtar vie for FAM presidency after Hamidin withdraws

The FAM presidential contest has intensified with the departure of Hamidin from the running, opening the field for fresh leadership in Malaysian football's top governing body. Hassan brings extensive experience from his tenure at the helm of the MFL, where he has overseen the country's professional league operations. His background in domestic football administration positions him as a continuity candidate for the federation.

Mokhtar's candidacy represents an alternative direction for the association. As deputy president of the FAS, he has gained regional exposure and experience in football governance across Southeast Asia. His involvement in a neighbouring football association's leadership structures brings an international perspective to the candidacy.

The FAM presidency election represents a critical juncture for Malaysian football, which has faced considerable scrutiny over governance and performance standards in recent years. The outcome of this contest will shape the federation's direction in the coming electoral cycle and influence strategic decisions affecting both the national team and domestic football development.

The election process will proceed through FAM's established procedures for selecting leadership, with voting to occur among the federation's member associations and relevant stakeholders.