KUALA LUMPUR: Two affiliates of the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) have defended the existence of the FAM honorary president’s position following statements regarding the status of the post in the governing body’s proposed new statutes.

Penang Football Association president Mohd Azizudin Mohd Shariff admitted he was shocked by the statement made by Asian Football Confederation (AFC) general secretary Datuk Seri Windsor Paul John, who reportedly said that the position of honorary president is no longer relevant and is not practised by the world governing body.

Mohd Azizudin said that based on the new draft statutes distributed to FAM affiliate members last week, the position of honorary president still exists and is retained within the FAM organisational structure.

“In fact, the new statutes are the result of a reform process implemented with the involvement and guidance of the AFC itself.

Therefore, the statement that the position will be abolished is quite surprising because the provision for it is still clearly contained in the draft statutes proposed for approval by the Congress,” he said in a statement yesterday.

Mohd Azizudin said the position of honorary president should be retained because it is a symbolic role awarded as the highest mark of respect to specific individuals.