Calling the many problems that afflict FAM as “diseases” that have grown over the years, he said there was only one outcome in the election that could help Malaysian football.
“To cure all these diseases, it can only be done by a billionaire prince.
“If I could vote this Saturday I would opt for TMJ to lead the FAM,” Zaid said in the latest posting on his blog today.
This Saturday, Tunku Ismail, who is popularly known as TMJ (Tunku Mahkota Johor), will be taking on Umno information chief Annuar Musa in a straight fight for the post of FAM president during the 51st FAM Congress.
“Football in this age can only be developed by a billionaire like TMJ, who has passion and does not think that much of profit and loss,” Zaid said, pointing to examples in the English Premier League.
“Chelsea, which is owned by Roman Abramovich, has enjoyed its greatest period of success since the Russian billionaire bought the club in 2004. Also, the proprietor of King Power International from Thailand, Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha, helped Leicester City to win the EPL title last year.”
Zaid said that FAM could also look to the example of South Korea where the financial might of rich companies like Hyundai and Posco have helped its domestic football to flourish.
“Now China too, have many football clubs which are owned by billionaires and have advanced rapidly, getting mentioned throughout the world,” he added.
According to the former de facto law minister, there is talk that Youth and Sports Minister Khairy Jamaluddin prefers to have Annuar compared with Tunku Ismail at the helm of the local football governing body.
“If this is true it would breach FIFA regulations, which prohibits a government or minister from interfering in football association affairs,” Zaid said.
“In fact, I believe Khairy and TMJ can work together. They both have many similar characteristics, being rich, young, handsome and have a liking for football.”
Annuar a ‘good man’
Zaid, who recently joined DAP, said he understood the problems faced by Malaysian football, stressing that he was once FAM legal adviser.
He said though Annuar was also rich, he believed the minister could not spend all his money to resolve many of the football problems.
“Only a billionaire who loves football could afford to do that,” he said.
Describing Annuar as a “good man”, Zaid noted that he had been youth and sports minister and FAM deputy president previously, and had also helped bring some success to Kelantan as its FA president.
He stressed however, that Annuar was burdened with political responsibilities, which included helping his “boss” Prime Minister Najib Razak.
“Annuar may also be made a senior minister if Umno wins in Kelantan in the next election.”
He called on FAM members to think in terms of practicality and opt for Tunku Ismail. He pointed out that the prince was the owner of the Johor squad whose performance has been superb.
Stressing that “failure is not an option” for the prince, Zaid concluded that as the heir to the Johor throne he would ensure everything possible is done to bring success to Malaysia on the football front.