TMJ allays fear after ending partnership with TM

JOHOR BARU: The Malaysian Football League (MFL) have allayed fears over the running of the M-League after announcing the cancellation of their sponsorship deal with Telekom Malaysia (TM).

TM had signed a whopping RM480mil deal with the MFL for a eight-year deal last year but the leading government-linked company have not met their obligations nor responded to MFL’s notices.

MFL chairman Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim has requested for their attorney Faisal Moideen to take the necessary legal action.

He has also tasked MFL chief executive officer Kevin Ramalingam to begin negotiation with interested parties to come on board as sponsors.

“We’ve received unofficial inquiries from several interested parties to sponsor us after hearing rumours over TM’s withdrawal but we have had always honoured our contract with them,” said Tunku Ismail in a statement.

“We had always been a good partner to TM and gave them room to solve their issues. We had always tried to discuss the issue with TM but it was met with dead end and we could not wait for them anymore due to our responsibility to manage the M-League.”

“Honestly, I’m disappointed with TM and didn’t expect this from them. We are aware that TM and the government may have problems but they should not let the nation’s No.1 sport, which unites the country suffer. This is the end result when sports are politicised.”

Tunku Ismail said MFL’s stake holder- the 24 teams participating in the M-League, to not worry over the cancellation.

“MFL have always striven to safeguard the M-League teams and looked for ways to strengthen the team’s financial positions,” he said.

“Football should not just seen on it’s commercial values but also as a medium of unity in our multi-racial country and everyone has a role to play in the development of our football.”