Malaysia join World League

MALAYSIA have become the first country in Southeast Asia to join the World League Forum (WLF), which comprises football leagues from around the world.

The signing of a memorandum of understanding between WLF and Football Malaysia Limited Liability Partnership (FMLLP) was held yesterday at a hotel in Johor Baru.

In the signing ceremony, WLF was represented by its secretary general Jerome Perlemuter while FMLPP was represented by its chairman Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim, who is also FAM president.

Tunku Ismail said the inclusion of Malaysia in the WLF is an honour for Malaysian football and it will open doors to more opportunities to improve.

“It allows us to learn more and improve on local football development as well as achieving a standard of professionalism and integrity by learning from other nations who had advanced well in football management and development,” he said.

Perlemuter said the inclusion of Malaysia in the WLF was made based on the qualification reached by FAM in having a structural football organisation and a streamlined local football development planning for the next five to 10 years.

“This qualification has made it possible for Malaysia to be part of the league, which offers the benefit of not only promoting and organising world class matches among league members but also in the development of footballers’ training and all aspect of football development worldwide,” he said.

Perlemuter said Malaysia’s inclusion also signify greater participation from a Southeast Asian football league as Malaysia is the first country from the region qualified to join the WLF and become its 30th member of the league, whose members come from all five continents.

In another matter, Tunku Ismail, who is also JDT owner, said a portion of the RM1 million incentive awarded by the state government to the team for winning the Malaysia Cup, will be given to flood victims in Penang.

“We have decided to donate around RM500,000 to RM600,000 to the cause (flood aid) as we were made to understand that the Johor government will top up the aid money for the flood victim,” he said. Halim Said