KUALA LUMPUR: The document fraud scandal rocking Malaysian football over the country’s fielding of ineligible foreign-born players is turning the heat on Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s government over its granting of citizenship that has long been a contentious issue in Malaysia.

The scandal, which led to world football governing body FIFA slapping Malaysia’s football association with a 350,000 Swiss franc (US$437,000) fine and banning seven foreign-born players who became naturalised citizens and represented the country, has prompted calls from the opposition for a Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) into the affair.

Takiyuddin Hassan, the chief Parliament whip for the opposition Perikatan Nasional coalition, said this week that the scandal went beyond “routine administrative errors”.

“This is not a technical mistake, but a deliberate act of fraud,” he said.

“The roles of JPN, the Ministry of Home Affairs, and the Ministry of Youth and Sports must also be examined, including any potential elements of corruption, abuse of power, or political interference,” he added, referring to the National Registration Department (JPN).

Apart from an RCI into the matter, elected parliamentary representatives from Anwar’s own Pakatan Harapan coalition are insisting the Parliament debate the widening football scandal.   

Football has a huge following in Malaysia and the unprecedented actions against the country, which has been a FIFA member since 1956, has put the Anwar government and the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM), the sports government body, on the backfoot.

When the s...