Youth and Sports Minister Khairy Jamaluddin Abu Bakar said Cabinet members are prohibited from holding posts in sports associations except with the approval of the Cabinet.

He said this when commenting on a suggestion by Mingguan Malaysia columnist Awang Selamat that he take over the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM).

The FAM will elect the leadership for the 2017-2021 term at its 53rd congress scheduled for March 25.

Awang Selamat was confident that Khairy's position and concern for Malaysian football will help the FAM.

"Even former prime ministers (Tunku Abdul Rahman and Tun Abdul Razak) used to hold the post of the FAM president." - Bernama