PETALING JAYA: Don’t rock the boat too soon.

This is the advice from the former National Sports Council (NSC) director general Datuk Mazlan Ahmad to the newly appointed Youth and Sports Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Faizal Azumu.

Ahmad Faizal has been named as the replacement for Datuk Seri Reezal Merican Naina Merican, who had held the position since March, 2020, under the new Cabinet reshuffle.

The former Perak Mentri Besar will be assisted by Datuk Seri Ti Lian Ker.

Mazlan, while welcoming the 51-year-old to the new post, hopes Ahmad Faizal will take time to study the sport scene in Malaysia first.

“He has the experience as he is a man who has been deeply involved in state affairs, which also include sports.

“He was the president of the state football association... usually, states will get their Mentri Besar to head the football associations,” said Mazlan.

Datuk Mazlan Ahmad

Ahmad Faizal headed the Perak Football Association (PAFA) in 2018 before resigning in early 2021. He was also the Mentri Besar when Perak hosted the Malaysia Games (Sukma) in 2018.

“I hope he will not make changes abruptly,” said Mazlan.