FAM fiasco shows fake glory prioritised over human rights, says activist
The irregular naturalisation of seven footballers is symptomatic of the country’s pursuit of “fake glory”, even at the expense of human rights, a Sabah activist lamented.
Johan Ariffin Samad said there were “thousands” of stateless Malaysians across the country, including in Sabah, who deserve citizenship and whose plight is constantly highlighted by NGOs.
“But we give priority to sports to obtain fake glory rather than pay attention to human rights.
“Football is short-term and giving foreign players citizenship is a short-term and mercenary move,” he told FMT.
Although no official data exists, various reports estimate that Sabah is home to some 300,000 stateless individuals, including children. Meanwhile, Bernama reported last year that the number in Peninsular Malaysia ranges…
