Day: May 7, 2024

KUALA LUMPUR, The Charity Shield (Piala Sumbangsih) 2024/2025 match between Super League defending champions and Selangor FC at the Sultan Ibrahim Stadium in Iskandar Puteri, Johor, will run as scheduled this Friday.

Malaysian Football League (MFL) chief executive officer Datuk Stuart Ramalingam said the 2024/2025 Malaysian League (M-League) opener will not be postponed due to the unfortunate incident that happened to Selangor’s sensational winger Mohamad Faisal Abdul Halim recently.

‘So far, the match will be played as scheduled on Friday. The MFL has not received any request from the teams to postpone this match. If there is any latest development, we will announce it,’ he said when met in Petaling Jaya, recently.

JDT are eyeing to defend the Charity Shield or the Sultan Haji Ahmad Shah Cup for the seventh consecutive time, while Selangor are looking to reclaim the trophy they last won in 2010.

It was speculated that the Friday match would be postponed after Mohamad Faisal suffered an acid attack belie
ved to have occurred at a shopping mall in the Klang Valley on Sunday. The incident left him with fourth-degree burns and had to be warded in the intensive care unit.

It was the second unfortunate incident to happen to a Harimau Malaya player after Muhammad Akhyar Abdul Rashid suffered head and bodily injuries after being attacked by two robbers near his home in Kuala Terengganu, last Thursday.

Meanwhile, Stuart dismissed all the wild speculations that arose following the attacks on the two national players, including the involvement of match-fixing syndicates.

‘Bookie (connection) is among the rumours that have arisen, but I don’t think that is directly related. The M-League is a league that we respect and all including the players are working to ensure the integrity of the league is maintained,’ he said.

At the same time, Stuart said the MFL will ensure that the level of security control throughout the M-League competition is increased, including from the aspect of the supporters, to create a peaceful a
tmosphere during the match.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

KUALA LUMPUR, Local football fans have been urged to stop planting the seeds of hatred and provocation on social media following the incident where Harimau Malaya winger Mohamad Faisal Abdul Halim was splashed with acid recently.

Local sports analyst Datuk Dr Pekan Ramli admitted that the elements of hatred that are being instilled either directly or indirectly via ‘troll’ accounts on national football-related social media platforms, especially in connection with the current domestic competitions, are worrying indeed.

He did not rule out the possibility that the incident involving Mohamad Faisal, who is better known as Faisal Halim, could have been due to extreme hatred mooted by the many hate-fuelled postings.

“This is extreme hatred. It is very dangerous and sports should not be tainted by such incidents. Don’t let this lead to incidents where athletes are murdered, like what happened in Colombia last time.

“Hope this case can be resolved and police can uncover the motive or the real cause, the logic b
ehind it (the acid attack), whether the perpetrator acted on his own or was hired, who hired him and so on. We hope this case can be solved swiftly to erase all concerns,’ he said when contacted by Bernama today.

Pekan also urged that monitoring be stepped up on the misuse of social media accounts to prevent such an incident from recurring.

“We need to have stringent control on the use of social media in any matter. Don’t let it become a platform that breeds extreme hatred,’ he said.

Meanwhile, former Selangor manager Zakaria Rahim described what happened to the 26-year-old Selangor FC player as an “inhumane, extreme and uncivilised act’.

“I urge all sports fans and athletes, either still active or retired and from whatever discipline, to stand in solidarity and strongly condemn such acts.

“No religion will legitimise such an act. No religion will ask its followers to harm another human being, or even animal or plant,’ Zakaria posted on his Facebook page today.

On Sunday (May 5), the local football frat
ernity was in shock when Faisal Halim suffered fourth-degree burns after being splashed with acid, in addition to his movements and speech also being affected.

The player, who won the 2023 Asian Cup Goal of the Tournament award in Qatar in January, is expected to be out of action for five to six months and will, thus, miss out on competing in the two remaining matches against Kyrgyzstan and Taiwan in next month’s 2026 World Cup/2027 Asian Cup Qualifiers.

Yesterday, police confirmed having arrested a man in Pandan Indah, Ampang to assist in the investigation into the attack on Faisal Halim.

This is the second unfortunate incident to befall a national player after Muhammad Akhyar Abdul Rashid suffered injuries to his head and legs from being attacked by two robbers at his residence in Kuala Terengganu last Thursday.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

SEPANG, The Ministry of Youth and Sports (KBS) will ensure Harimau Malaya stalwart Mohamad Faisal Abdul Halim, better known as Faisal Halim, receives the best treatment for free at the National Sports Institute (NSI) in appreciation of the 26-year-old’s priceless contributions to the country.

Its Minister, Hannah Yeoh said they will ensure that the footballer receives the necessary support and treatment throughout his recuperation period, which is expected to take months.

“KBS wants to provide support to Faisal Halim (through the) NSI (which) will provide whatever services, including physiotherapy, required for free to ensure he fully recovers quickly.

“I want to tell him he is appreciated not only by the government but that all Malaysians are praying for his quick recovery,’ she said.

She told reporters this after witnessing the exchange of memorandum of understanding (MoU) documents between the KBS and the Malaysia Aviation Group (MAG) with MAG Group managing director Datuk Capt Izham Ismail at the Mal
aysia Airlines Berhad (MAB) Academy here today.

While strongly condemning the heinous attack on the Selangor FC wing wizard, Hannah also that no one deserved to be treated like that.

“That is why I want to make sure the police take stern action against the suspect(s) to discover the motive behind the attack. Otherwise, I fear it may happen to others… the investigation by the police is extremely crucial.

“(The Charity Shield) is a decision to be made by the organisers…,’ said Hannah, who is still waiting for the right time to visit Faisal Halim based on the doctor’s recommendation.

Meanwhile, NSI chief executive officer Ahmad Faedzal Md Ramli said they are ready to provide the best services possible for Faisal Halim through a specially structured and designed programme based on our sports science and sports medicine expertise.

He said that based on previous data, the NSI would have to analyse in detail the injuries to his muscles before starting any rehabilitation process.

On Sunday (May 5), the local
football fraternity was in shock when Faisal Halim suffered fourth-degree burns after being splashed with acid, in addition to his movements and speech also being affected.

This is the second incident involving a national footballer after Terengganu FC (TFC) winger Akhyar Rashid suffered injuries to his head and leg after being attacked by two robbers in his housing area in Kuala Terengganu on Thursday (May 2).

Akhyar was said to have been injured after being struck on the head with a blunt object.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

SEPANG, The strategic collaboration between the Ministry of Youth and Sports (KBS) and the Malaysia Aviation Group (MAG) today has brought good tidings to the national sports fraternity, with back-up or junior athletes set to enjoy up to a 20 per cent discount on Malaysia Airlines flight tickets.

Youth and Sports Minister Hannah Yeoh said the one-year collaboration is expected to benefit 1,000 athletes, 150 coaching personnel, 221 associations and 103 sports recognised by the ministry for any Games, including for training domestically or abroad.

“If we send five athletes, there may be other athletes from an association not sponsored by the government. So, their parents must buy the flight tickets because their child is placed sixth or seventh. Everyone will benefit from this initiative if they are recognised by the KBS

“This product will benefit junior athletes and talent development. We know those under-18, Under-12, the junior category do not get exposure due to insufficient budget… through this (facili
ty), junior athletes will get more exposure and help them make preparations when they get into the Podium Programme,’ she said.

She told reporters this after witnessing the exchange of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) documents between KBS and MAG at the Malaysia Airlines Berhad (MAB) Academy Campus here today.

Also present was MAG Group managing director Datuk Capt Izham Ismail.

Hannah said athletes keen on getting the discount need to go through their respective associations or the National Sports Council and State Youth and Sports Department.

Izham, however, said although the discount percentage would depend on the travel season, it showed their commitment to supporting sporting excellence and nurturing sporting talents.

MHsports, provided by the MAG specifically for KBS, offers exclusive benefits whereby qualified individuals can enjoy discounts on airfare and additional baggage allowance in addition to earning Enrich points.

The offer applies only to flights operated by Malaysia Airlines and e
xcludes flight partners Oneworld and Codeshare.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

KUALA LUMPUR, The Ministry of Youth and Sports (KBS) intends to improve sports infrastructure in Cameron Highlands to support athletes in the area, right up to the grassroots level.

Its Minister, Hannah Yeoh said this was after the ministry found that there were deficiencies that made it difficult for athletes in the area to undergo training and use the necessary facilities.

She said that one of the infrastructure lacking for the local community was the absence of a swimming pool, resulting in athletes having to train at The Strawberry Hotel pool, which is provided for free.

“The ministry is dedicated to instilling sports from the grassroots to the elite level. We intend to create opportunities for everyone to be involved in sports, irrespective of age or background,’ she said in a statement issued by the ministry today.

Hannah also stated her commitment to cooperating with local representatives to achieve the objective, especially in identifying land for projects to improve sports infrastructure.

Meanw
hile, the statement added that Hannah has surveyed the proposed upgrading work to turn a field into a track and field facility that will function as the main hub for local sports activities, school events and recreational activities.

“In addition, Hannah also visited a local community gymnasium managed by the Cameron Highlands District Youth Council, for which she announced a RM50,000 contribution to upgrade the gym equipment,’ it said, adding that Cameron Highlands Member of Parliament Datuk Ramli Mohd Nor also took part in the visit.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency