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New Straits Times
26-05-2025
- Business
- New Straits Times
Perak kicks off football revival from the ground up
BATU GAJAH: Perak will prioritise grassroots football development in a bid to revive the sport's former glory in the state. Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Saarani Mohamad said this approach was being adopted as attempts to turn football into a commercial venture had not delivered the desired outcomes, unlike in some other countries. He said that although football team privatisation had been pursued in the hope that private sector investment would drive profit-oriented growth, it had proven unsustainable. "In Malaysia, including in Perak, we have been unable to replicate the model seen in countries like the United Kingdom, where football functions not only as a sport but as a major business," he said. "We had hoped that private companies, such as XOX, would fund Perak FC, but in the end, they could not sustain the commitment. This isn't unique to Perak — most states face similar challenges, with the exception of Johor Darul Ta'zim (JDT)," he added. Saarani was speaking at a press conference after attending the Meet the Customer Day event at Dewan Bandaran Kinta here today. It was recently reported that Perak FC had suspended all operations with immediate effect due to financial difficulties. In a statement, the club's management confirmed that foreign players had been released and remaining funds used to pay staff and local players. Saarani said the state would now return to the traditional football development model beginning at school level. Discussions have already been held with Perak Football Association (PAFA) president Datuk Mohd Azhar Jamaluddin. "In the past, we identified talent through school competitions via the Perak School Sports Council (MSSPk), starting from district level up to the state level. That was how we unearthed promising players," he said. "If we want Perak football to thrive again, we need to rebuild from that foundation." He also attributed the lack of new talent to the limited opportunities available to local players in the Super League, which increasingly favours foreign players. "At the moment, only JDT are managing to stay competitive. States such as Kedah, Perlis, Pahang, and even Perak are struggling. "With the Super League allowing foreign players, local talent is being sidelined. Yet the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) still relies on Malaysian players for the national team. Without grassroots development, where will those players come from?" he said. Saarani affirmed that the state would continue supporting football development through participation in tournaments such as the Malaysia Games (Sukma) and other state-level championships.
The Star
26-05-2025
- Business
- The Star
Football business not feasible in Malaysia, says Perak MB
BATU GAJAH: Football as a business is not feasible in Malaysia, says Datuk Seri Saarani Mohamad. The Perak Mentri Besar said many teams are struggling financially and more will likely end up like Perak FC. "Only Johor Darul Ta'zim (JDT) can do it. Teams like Perak, Kedah, Perlis, Pahang and Terengganu are all struggling," he said. He said this during a press conference after attending the Meet the Customer Day at Dewan Bandaran Kinta on Monday (May 26). "We cannot copy what is being done in the United Kingdom because it is not just a sport there but a business," he said. "In Malaysia, we just cannot do it. Like Perak, the team was privatised with hopes that XOX Bhd could develop the sport based on business but it's just not doable," added Saarani. Saarani was asked to comment on Perak FC's recent decision to officially stop all operations due to financial strains.
New Straits Times
26-05-2025
- General
- New Straits Times
Stray cows on roads? Perak MB says: 'Use the grazing fields'
BATU GAJAH: Perak Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Saarani Mohamad has urged farmers to make full use of the designated grazing areas provided by the state government in a bid to address the ongoing issue of stray livestock. He said that free-roaming cattle and buffaloes, often reared by small-scale farmers without proper enclosures, had become a serious concern as they frequently strayed onto roads and agricultural land. He said that the presence of these animals not only disrupted local farming activities but also posed a safety risk to motorists. "These animals often wander freely and even enter fenced agricultural areas, which has led to numerous complaints from local residents," he said at a press conference after attending the Meet the Customer Day event at Dewan Bandaran Kinta today. Saarani said that stray livestock lying on roads at night presented a significant hazard, with several accidents involving vehicles already reported. "The animals lie on the roads at night because the asphalt retains heat. We strongly urge farmers to confine their livestock within the designated grazing areas to prevent such dangerous incidents," he said. Although the Department of Veterinary Services has set up communal grazing fields, some farmers remain reluctant to use them due to concerns over distance and accessibility. "Some of the grazing areas are quite far from the villages, making it inconvenient for farmers to tend to their animals on a daily basis. However, it is not feasible to establish grazing areas in every village due to the limited availability of state land," he added. These communal fields are managed by committees formed by local farmers, but Saarani stressed that cooperation was essential to ensure public safety and reduce the risk of road accidents. "We hope livestock owners will collaborate by using the designated grazing areas to promote safety and harmony within their communities," he said.
The Star
26-05-2025
- General
- The Star
MOOve it: Perak wants farmers to graze their cows in state-designated fields
BATU GAJAH: Perak cattle farmers have been urged to graze their animals at designated fields prepared by the state, says Datuk Seri Saarani Mohamad, The state Mentri Besar said that there were farmers who declined to do so, causing various issues to the public, including road accidents and destruction of crops. Saarani said these mainly involved small farmers who do not own farms and resort to letting their cows or buffalo roam freely. "When released, the animals will roam, eating grass and sometimes enter into other people's crop farms. "Under the Veterinary Services Department, we have prepared grazing fields that are managed by a committee consisting of farmers," he said in a press conference after attending the Meet the Customer Day at Dewan Bandaran Kinta here on Monday (May 26). "But there are some farmers who do not want to go through the committee for some reason. "So they continue rearing the animals freely, which can also cause traffic issues, causing accidents whereby cars can crash into the animals at night, as some would sleep on the road," he said. "We therefore called on all farmers to keep or put their animals at these grazing lands," he added. The issue was among the complaints received during the Meet the Customer Day event. Saarani also acknowledged that these grazing fields were probably located far away from the farmers' village, and it was an issue to travel there and back. "However, not every village can have such grazing land. Some villages do not have such lands to be gazetted as such," he said. "That is why we prepare these lands in specific areas, hoping that farmers will put their animals there," he added.
