KUALA LUMPUR: With increased funding for the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM), it’s time to improve Harimau Malaya’s FIFA ranking, says Dungun MP Wan Hassan Mohd Ramli.
Wan Hassan reminded Malaysians that during the 1970s and 1980s, Malaysia’s football team was on par with Japan and South Korea. However, while those nations have since qualified for the World Cup multiple times, Malaysia’s football progress has lagged.
“As of Oct 24, Malaysia’s FIFA ranking is 133. We need to lay a solid foundation for improvement,” he said while debating the Supply Bill 2025 in the Dewan Rakyat on Tuesday (Oct 29).
Following the RM15mil allocation in Budget 2025 for the national football team, Wan Hassan asked whether Malaysians might soon see Harimau Malaya competing in the World Cup.
“A total of RM15mil has been allocated for Harimau Malaya, as well as the Under-18 and Under-13 teams, in partnership with FAM,” he said. “This funding will go towards hiring top coaches, offering quality training sessions, and providing suitable rewards for players.”
He added that local football fans often wake up early or stay up late to watch other countries compete rather than cheering for their own. “I hope we can demonstrate that Malaysia, too, can achieve the same heights as Japan and South Korea.”
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, in announcing Budget 2025, said that financial support for the national team would help Harimau Malaya develop the coaching and training needed to establish itself as a football powerhouse in Asia.
