Regardless of whether Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak gets the top job at Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) or not, the new FAM head must show immediate results or vacate the post.

This is the opinion of prominent historian and regular sports critic Khoo Kay Kim, when asked today to weigh in on suggestions that Najib takes the helm of FAM.

"I believe that it doesn't matter who is chosen, but what is important is that the person be given three years.

"Should there be no improvements in three years, he must leave.

"There is no point hanging on to a post for 10 years only to have football standards slide," Khoo told Malaysiakini.

Previously, it was reported that former FAM vice-president Raja Ahmad Zainuddin Raja Omar had proposed Najib as the best person for the job.

Raja Ahmad Zainuddin said Najib was influential and was capable of motivating the football team. Moreover, past prime ministers such as Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra and Abdul Razak Hussein had once held the post.

Football Coaches Association of Malaysia (FCAM) president B Sathianathan said Najib was unsuitable for the job as he would not be able to commit to it full-time because of his busy schedule.

A new FAM head will be chosen next year. Apart from Najib, some officials have mooted Johor Crown Prince Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim, Umno information chief Annuar Musa and AirAsia CEO Tony Fernandes as potential candidates.