"Right now, I think Malaysian football is at its best. It is very clean, the movement of the odds in the M-League is stable," Wilson Raj Perumal, the man dubbed the most notorious football match-fixer in the world told Channel NewsAsia today.
According to Channel NewsAsia, Perumal had plenty to say, however, about recent comments made by renowned match-fixing investigator Chris Eaton, who was FIFA's security head when the Singaporean was brought to justice in 2011.
On Nov 8, it was reported that Malaysia had overtaken Singapore as the hub for sports match-fixing in Southeast Asia following a crackdown in the city-state.
"Malaysia is the epicentre of trade for Southeast Asia," Eaton had reportedly said.
He said Singapore had managed to break up some football match-fixing syndicates although he added some remained working in "close association" with syndicates in Malaysia.
"Match-fixing is not only taking place in Southeast Asia. It is also rife in Russia, Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia. The FAs (football associations) are busy cleaning the mess.
"Eaton will have to substantiate his accusations against these countries and not make baseless accusations," said Perumal who has an autobiography titled Kelong Kings: Confessions of the world's most prolific match-fixer.
According to Channel NewsAsia, Perumal could be released from house arrest in Hungary and sent home to Singapore in 2017.
The 51-year-old, believed to have rigged up to 100 matches globally, has been based in Budapest since 2012 under a witness protection programme while aiding investigations into widespread corruption in football.
He is a wanted man in his homeland after fleeing abroad to escape a five-year jail term for running over an auxiliary policeman in 2009.
But should he be repatriated to Singapore, Perumal could also face the prospect of detention - a fate met by fellow match-fixer Dan Tan Seet Eng, who has been held since October 2013 under the Criminal Law (Temporary Provisions) Act, it said.
Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar had refuted an allegation that Malaysia is the centre of football match-fixing in Southeast Asia, saying no concrete evidence has ever been received.
He said the police force was part of the integrity committee set up by the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM), adding that it has taken active measures to prevent corruption and match-fixing in the sport.
"I wish to emphasize that the Malaysian Police have not received information on such allegations, either from the Federation of International Football Association (FIFA), the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) or any other source," he had said.
He added that he welcomed any information that could shed light on the alleged rampant corruption in the sport, but stressed that it must be backed by credible and tangible proof. - BERNAMA
Bernama
Fri Dec 09 2016
PERUMAL: Singapore had managed to break up some football match-fixing syndicates although he added some remained working in "close association" with syndicates in Malaysia. - Filepic
Malaysia amalkan dasar luar yang seimbang, elak provokatif - Anwar
Malaysia mengamalkan pendekatan dasar luar yang seimbang antara Barat dan Timur, selain mengelakkan sebarang keadaan yang dilihat sebagai provokatif, kata Perdana Menteri Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
Anjing kejar budak berjaya ditangkap, ada pemilik - PBT
Majlis Perbandaran Manjung (MPM) berjaya menangkap tiga ekor anjing yang dipercayai mengejar seorang kanak-kanak lelaki hingga nyaris digilis kereta pada Sabtu.
Fokus Minggu Depan: Soladiriti Gaza merantasi bangsa dan agama
Break The Siege: Fokus Minggu Depan membincangkan topik Solidariti Gaza Merentasi Bangsa dan Agama susulan penangguhan misi penghantaran bantuan ke Gaza anjuran Freedom Flotilla Coalition (FFC).
Boling padang: Daripada jaguh kampung, Farah Ain kini bergelar jaguh dunia!
Farah Ain berjaya menempatkan dirinya di puncak dunia dengan menggondol pingat emas perseorangan wanita di Kejohanan Boling Padang Dalam Dewan Dunia, Guernsey.
Kekejaman Zionis: Angka kematian meningkat ke lebih 34,000
Sekurang-kurangnya lapan rakyat Palestin terbunuh dan berpuluh-puluh cedera pada petang Jumaat dalam serangan Israel ke atas kem pelarian Nuseirat di tengah Gaza.
Pertumbuhan saksama: Penglibatan negara maju penting
Tengku Zafrul melihat kerjasama dan penglibatan negara maju sebagai aspek penting dalam membantu membawa kemampanan dan pertumbuhan yang seimbang.
PRK Kuala Kubu Baharu: Calon PH lancar manifesto minggu depan
Calon PH Pang Sock Tao akan melancarkan manifesto sempena PRK Kuala Kubu Baharu minggu depan.
SPRM siasat pemimpin kanan di utara tanah air
Seorang pemimpin kanan di utara tanah air disiasat Suruhanjaya Pencegahan Rasuah Malaysia (SPRM).
TH tanggung lebih RM350 juta kos tunai haji tahun ini
Lembaga Tabung Haji (TH) menanggung lebih RM350 juta membabitkan kos langsung dan tidak langsung tunai haji menerusi Bantuan Kewangan Haji pada tahun ini.
Musim haji: Persiap diri, jaga keselamatan dan kesihatan - Sultan Selangor
Sultan Sharafuddin menasihatkan jemaah agar membuat persiapan fizikal, emosi dan ilmu pengetahuan dengan sebaiknya.
Singapura akan kenakan caj jalan raya sempadan Malaysia
Singapura akan mengenakan caj jalan raya sepadan dengan kadar Malaysia pada RM20 bersamaan S$6.50 yang dilaksana sejak 1 Nov lepas, lapor Channel NewsAsia hari ini.
Dokumentari "A Fractured Nation" berat sebelah - Salleh
Datuk Seri Salleh berkata dokumentari itu tidak mencerminkan situasi sebenar negara.