Hannah Yeoh, Minister of Youth and Sports, has called on Malaysian League (Liga-M) clubs to raise their standards and not blame Johor Darul Ta’zim for their dominance in domestic football.
Speaking at a reception hosted by the German Embassy to celebrate Germany’s athletics squad, Hannah praised JDT as a benchmark for professionalism and club management, urging other teams to view the Southern Tigers’ success as motivation rather than a threat.
“It’s unfair to fault a club simply because they’re excellent. The focus should be on striving to reach their level — not withdrawing from competition just because they’re too good,” she stressed.
“That kind of attitude is neither justified nor rational. JDT have elevated the standard of Malaysian football and should be commended for it.”
The Minister emphasized that JDT’s dominance should inspire healthy competition, not resignation or defeatism. She criticized calls to boycott matches or complaints that the league lacks competitiveness, stating that such views undermine the spirit of sportsmanship.
“Other teams should aim to compete with JDT, not adopt a mindset of ‘if we can’t beat them, we won’t play.’ That’s not what sports is about.”
Yeoh also called for better management practices within M-League clubs, especially regarding player wages and welfare, as these are key factors in attracting sponsors and sustaining the development of football in Malaysia.
“If football clubs — which already have a strong fanbase — are struggling to gain sponsors, imagine the difficulty faced by lesser-followed sports. Sponsors today look at how a club is managed, how salaries are paid, and how players are treated.”
Her remarks come at a time when some critics have questioned JDT’s dominance and its impact on the league. However, Hannah Yeoh made it clear: the issue is not with JDT’s success — it’s with others failing to rise to the challenge.
Credit Photo : Hannah Yeoh
