His Royal Highness Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim, the Regent of Johor and architect behind the Harimau Malaya football revolution, has hit back at what he describes as coordinated efforts to derail national football progress by targeting him personally.
Speaking to Astro Arena’s Zulhelmi Zainal Azam, the Crown Prince, also known as TMJ, did not mince words.
“If we look at the last two months, it’s clear that there is a movement that does not want to see this succeed. When they can’t attack me directly, they go after JDT, they attack the league, and they try to spin narratives using the national team.”
From personal accusations to public suspicion, Tunku Ismail has found himself at the center of blame for multiple unrelated incidents — a trend he says reveals more about his detractors than about his actions.
“Somehow, everything that happens must be linked to me. Interesting, isn’t it?” he wrote in a pointed Instagram post following recent developments.
That post served as a direct rebuke to critics who continue to cast suspicion on him for everything from football controversies to social unrest.
“If what’s bothering you is influence, then I have bad news,” he added.
“Influence can’t be removed. Whether it’s in football or elsewhere, it’s part of the ecosystem.”
Tunku Ismail took the opportunity to respond publicly to whispers and accusations surrounding recent national incidents — including the acid attack on footballer Faisal Halim, and even a physical assault on a local vocalist.
“There was an attack on a local music group vocalist — somehow, they tried to drag me into it.
And of course, the Faisal Halim case. Let me be clear: I had nothing to do with such a cowardly act,” he asserted.
Known for his military background and no-nonsense leadership style, Tunku Ismail added that if he had something to say or do, he would not hide behind violence or anonymous tactics.
As the former President of the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM), Tunku Ismail has long been a central figure in national sports reform. His revolutionary steps to overhaul Harimau Malaya include appointing Peter Cklamovski of Australia as head coach and Jose Baxter of England as assistant coach — signaling a bold new direction.
“Yes, influence matters. And yes, I use mine — to elevate, not to destroy,” he emphasized.
Credit Photo : JST
