Dewan Rakyat Speaker Johari Abdul has rejected a notice of motion filed by Kampar MP Chong Zhemin to debate Fifa’s findings, disclosed in its judgment disputing the Malaysian heritage of seven footballers in the Harimau Malaya national squad.
In a letter to the MP sighted by FMT, Johari said home minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail had explained the issue during Question Time yesterday.
“Therefore, I am rejecting Yang Berhormat’s motion to the chamber, in accordance with Standing Order 18(7)(b),” he said.
According to Standing Order 18(7)(b), a speaker may refuse to allow any motion submitted to him if he is satisfied that the matter raised has been debated in the current session and that the relevant minister has provided clarification.
Saifuddin said that the naturalisation of the footballers whom Fifa had sanctioned was done strictly by the book based on three criteria under Article 19 of the Federal Constitution: good character, adequate knowledge of Bahasa Melayu, and residence in Malaysia for the required periods and the intention to do so permanently.
He also said that 23 footballers, including the seven sanctioned players, had been naturalised as Malaysian citizens throughout his tenure as home minister.
Chong issued the notice of motion on Fifa’s findings three days ago, saying they raised serious concerns regarding transparency in national sports governance, the athlete naturalisation process, and the oversight of official national documents.
The players involved are Gabriel Felipe Arrocha, Facundo Garces, Rodrigo Holgado, Imanol Machuca, Joao Figueiredo, Jon Irazabal and Hector Hevel.
Fifa said its probe had found falsified documents claiming that the players’ grandparents were Malaysian, when records showed they were born in Spain, Argentina, Brazil and the Netherlands.
The Football Association of Malaysia meanwhile has reiterated its decision to appeal Fifa’s sanctions, saying the international football organisation provided no evidence to support its claims.
