Kedah FA votes in favour of Ahmad Bashah

Despite calls from Umno Youth for the menteri besar to step down, Kedah Football Association wants him to remain as president.

Syed-Unan-bashah-kfa ALOR SETAR: The Kedah Football Association (KFA) council today unanimously voted in favour of Kedah Menteri Besar Ahmad Bashah Md Hanipah to remain as the president despite calls from Kedah Umno Youth for him to step down.

KFA deputy president Syed Unan Mashri Syed Abdullah said the decision was made at a KFA special meeting that was held to discuss the call by the Kedah Umno Youth for Bashah to step down from the post of president.

“The KFA management, through the KFA council, wants the post of KFA president to be retained by Bashah.

“He has made vast contributions to the KFA by providing financial support, sponsorship from private sector and providing infrastructure facilities for the team to train.

“It is therefore paramount for the menteri besar to be retained as the president,” he said during a special media conference at a leading hotel here today.

Kedah Umno Youth had made the call following an incident where Bashah was booed by a group of Kedah fans during the Malaysia Cup final after the state’s team lost 0-2 to Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT) at the Shah Alam Stadium on Nov 4.

Its chief, Shaiful Hazizy Zainol Abidin, had said the call was made to avoid any embarrassment faced by politicians when some parties turned football into a political matter.

“We cannot bear to see the MB, who is also KFA president, abused despite his enormous service and contributions to football after taking over the post about two years ago,” he had said.

Shaiful said the incident where Bashah was booed by a group of Kedah fans at the Malaysia Cup final was unacceptable.

The Kedah Umno Youth had also urged other politicians in KFA to step down.