Have the rebellious Ultras Malaya lost their gumption?

REGARDLESS of the pitch conditions, a regular feature at every football match involving Harimau Malaya is the highly nationalistic chant from Ultras Malaya.

Thanks to their presence, the stadium reverberates with an electrifying atmosphere that inspires the Malaysian players and instil fear into the opponents.

Good times or bad, this group of hard-core football fans will keep on chanting and roaring with war cries.

Pioneered by a group of fans out of a combination of passion for the game and frustration towards the state of football in 2007, Ultras Malaya 07 eventually brought together like-minded fans from all walks of life regardless of religion, economic status and educational background.

At the height of their powers, the Ultras culture was spread across all 14 States.

They know with the common passion for football deeply rooted within the social fabric of the country, all they needed to do was to organise themselves as a movement to prod and provoke.

Their support for the local game continues to be manifested in various fascinating or intriguing ways.

They are seen as the rebellious group of fans who tend to be anti-establishment in their attitude and behaviour.

They provoke by using flares, chanting in unison and unfurling colourful and provocative banners in the stands. Whether you are in Selangor, Kelantan or Pahang, Ultras are known for their unwavering dedication to their teams and animosity towards the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) and their affiliates.

The group do more than just express their support on match days.

As a movement, they have never been shy to use their visibility, voice and strength to their advantage.

Not only did they initiate the Presiden FAM Sila Letak Jawatan (PFSLJ) move in 2012, they were also not afraid to create troubles in the stadium.

In 2015, two supporters alleged to be members of Ultras Malaya were remanded to help in investigations into the crowd trouble during the match between Malaysia and Saudi Arabia in the World Cup qualifier at the Shah Alam Stadium.

The order was issued by the Shah Alam High Court against a 24-year-old private university student and a 32-year-old trishaw peddler under Section 147 of the Penal Code.

The match was stopped by referee Liu Kwok Man from Hong Kong following crowd trouble caused by Malaysian spectators in the 88th minute after a few Ultras Malaya supporters threw fireworks, flares and smoke bombs onto the pitch, forcing the match to be abandoned.

The Youth and Sports Minister then, Khairy Jamaluddin, condemned the act as shameful on his Twitter (now X) account.

A former deputy president of the FAM, Khairy did not take the populist route then when he said both the FAM and fans were at fault.

Netizens, however, supported the Ultras, claiming it as a wake-up call for the FAM and describing the bold act as a remonstration rather than violence.

A year earlier, Ultras Malaya were suspected to be behind the smoke bombs and flares as Malaysia played the Philippines at the Selayang Stadium.

The match was suspended for eight minutes in the first half after a group of fans lit flares, threw smoke bombs onto the track and pitch while singing derogatory songs and unfurling a banner insulting the FAM.

Malaysia coach Kim Pan-gon knew how influential Ultras Malaya are in the psyche of the players and the fans.

Upon his arrival in early 2022, the newly-appointed South Korean was quick to get Ultras Malaya’s buy-in.

In his first official press conference at Wisma FAM, Pan-gon stated that as the national supremo, he would require the full support of the Ultras Malaya.

Gradually, Ultras Malaya have taken over the role of watchdog, with the traditional media opting to be friendly with the powers-that-be.

As fans, they were not afraid to ask questions on the FAM’s stand on the FIFA rankings, targets, ticketing convenience and professionalism of the league organisation.

They too have the power to boycott the national team by staying away from a tournament in 2019.

By not being aligned to anybody, Ultras Malaya enjoy the freedom to criticise and express their sentiments for the betterment of football.

So any allegations of their top leaders being close to the FAM and other affiliates must be addressed.

For Malaysian football to prosper, we need to celebrate dissenting views and constructive criticism, without fear or favour.

Ultras Malaya must remain a pressure group to scrutinise every move made by those who govern local football. Or have they lost their gumption due to the passage of time?