PETALING JAYA (Feb 3): The Football Association of Malaysia has appointed Harimau Muda A coach, Datuk Ong Kim Swee as the interim national team (Harimau Malaya) head coach, to replace Datuk K. Rajagobal whose contract expired on Dec 31.

FAM vice president Datuk Seri Subahan Kamal when making the announcement today said Kim Swee would be in charge of the national squad until the end of the 2015 Asia Cup Qualifier.

Malaysia, drawn in Group D, play Yemen in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE), early next month.

Subahan said the decision to appoint Kim Swee, 43, was taken after talks with prospective coach Philippe Troussier from France, hit a dead end.

"Since time was short before the Qualifier, we had to make a quick decision. I hope the appointment will end speculation about the appointment of the national coach.

"I, as the National team manager, am also confident of Kim Swee's credibility and capability to lift the status of the team," he told reporters at Wisma FAM, Kelana Jaya, here.

Subahan however, stressed that the FAM was considering a number of candidates for the job of national coach although the list had been shortlisted to 42 applicants.

He added that the FAM had not set any time frame for the appointment because 2014 is not a very busy year for the national squad on the international football stage.

Meanwhile, Kim Swee expressed confidence with the capability of his new assistant for the Harimau Muda A team, Rusdi Suparman, a former international who played for Selangor.

Rusdi would assist Kim Swee in preparing the Harimau Muda A team that will play in Australia's National Premier League (NPL) in Queensland, starting next month. - Bernama