Utusan reported him as saying an impending revamp will see Harimau Malaya placed under a special unit of FAM.

This unit will monitor and manage the Harimau Malaya and under-23 squads, including their allocations and coaching lineup.

“The issue of privatisation does not arise. The national team will be under a special unit that will also cover the under-23 squad.

“This unit will be responsible to the president (Hamidin Amin) and excos of FAM,” he said.

Early last month, Johor regent and Johor Darul Ta’zim football club owner Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim had floated the idea of privatising the Harimau Malaya squad.

He shared his idea on Instagram, along with proposed systems, roles and an organisational chart if such an independent body were to materialise.

FMT later reported two former national footballers as expressing concern over the idea.

Thomas Samuel, honorary secretary of the Ex-State and Ex-National Footballers Association Malaysia, said the proposal was good but voiced concern that it would be tarnished by political appointments.

Football legend James Wong said he believed FAM was already sufficiently equipped to handle the national team.