Latest news with #Pekan
New Straits Times
17-07-2025
- Sport
- New Straits Times
FAM's late CAFA Cup withdrawal a bad look for Malaysian football
KUALA LUMPUR: Football critic Datuk Dr Pekan Ramli has taken aim at the FA of Malaysia (FAM) for withdrawing Harimau Malaya from the CAFA Nations Cup (Aug 29-Sept 8), urging the national body to own up to its mistake. Pekan said the last-minute withdrawal from the Central Asian tournament has left Malaysian football's image in tatters and risks souring ties with regional football authorities. "We need to be honest. This wasn't CAFA's mistake. We knew from the start the early matches didn't fall within the Fifa window, yet we still agreed to take part," he said. "This should have been studied earlier. You can't say you only found out now. Was it overconfidence in securing heritage players? Logistical problems? "All of this should have been considered in advance, including the consequences of losing without key players, which could have seriously damaged our ranking and reputation." Malaysia's withdrawal — more than a month before the Aug 29 kick-off — came after it became clear that assembling a full-strength squad, especially heritage players based overseas, would not be feasible due to scheduling conflicts and travel challenges. While FAM has yet to publicly accept responsibility, Pekan believes the handling of the matter could trigger a diplomatic fallout in regional football. "When you pull out at the eleventh hour, it looks like you're blaming others. CAFA has already said they're not happy with how it was handled. Maybe they had everything in place — logistics and all — and now we're the ones pulling out. That hurts the relationship," he said. Pekan also warned of a growing backlash from fans and netizens. "This is the reality the management has to face. Yes, maybe we protected our ranking, and that's one silver lining. If we had gone and lost without our best players, our FIFA ranking (No. 125) could have dropped. "But that still doesn't erase the bad impression we've created." He criticised what he sees as a strategic miscalculation, believing that the team could compete in CAFA with a full-strength squad. "There was an assumption they could get everyone. When that didn't happen, they made a drastic call that hurt the country's image. "They didn't want to risk a ranking drop or spoil their unbeaten run, so they pulled out. It shows they were more focused on preserving stats than giving others a chance." Pekan added that the decision not only affected ties with CAFA but also disrupted plans at home, including the now-cancelled Merdeka Tournament, which may be revived as a last-minute replacement. "Maybe they scrapped the Merdeka Tournament earlier because of the CAFA event. Now they need to revive it or organise matches with other nations — during the proper Fifa window. "If it's from Sept 1-9, and they want matches to prepare, they won't get the full team. At best, it'll just be internal prep. "Some may say — just go with whoever's available. But clearly, the management didn't want to risk the ranking. They chose the safer path — protecting results and image, even if it hurts our international credibility." Pekan concluded by calling on FAM to take responsibility. "This isn't just football. It's about international relations. CAFA is a regional governing body, and now we've damaged that relationship.
New Straits Times
10-07-2025
- Sport
- New Straits Times
MFL's foreign player tweak benefits the rich in the Super League
KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian Football League's (MFL) recent adjustment to its foreign player quota has sparked discussion among football observers, with some suggesting that the timing and structure of the change may benefit certain teams more than others. Football critic Datuk Dr Pekan Ramli said the decision to reduce the number of foreign players allowed in the starting XI from seven to six, while maintaining the registration cap at 15, deserves closer scrutiny. "This isn't just about numbers, it's also about planning," said Pekan. "Removing the second Asean player from the on-field quota appears neutral, but it may shift the balance in subtle ways that favour certain teams." Under the revised rule, teams may still register 15 foreign players, but only six can be fielded at once — comprising four open-quota imports, one from Asia and one from Asean. The main change is the reduction of Asean players on the pitch from two to one. While the revision appears modest on paper, Pekan believes it may unintentionally favour clubs with deeper resources and a stronger foreign player base. "Some teams already have heritage or naturalised players who play key roles. In such situations, there may be little incentive to field Asean imports who are of similar quality to local players," he explained. He also noted that some fans have questioned the timing of the rule change, which comes just over three weeks before the M-League kicks off on Aug 8. "Although MFL has provided its reasons, changes this close to the season can affect club planning. Not all teams have the flexibility to adapt quickly in terms of squad depth or tactics," he said. "This could impact player confidence, team chemistry, and overall preparedness." Pekan further pointed out that the aim of creating more space for local-born players might not materialise, since naturalised players are already classified as locals under the rules. "Removing one Asean slot doesn't necessarily mean more Malaysian-born players will get minutes. In many cases, those positions could go to naturalised players, who are still imports in nature — just not on paper." He also observed that Asean players, while comparable in quality to Malaysian players, play an important role in balancing squads for clubs with limited resources. "For smaller teams, the removal of that extra Asean slot could represent a lost opportunity to maintain squad balance. Stronger clubs may now bring in higher-quality imports instead." On a positive note, Pekan welcomed MFL's decision to release a full season's calendar ahead of time — a move aimed at improving planning and transparency. However, he also urged the league to be mindful of how timing and communication around regulatory changes affect clubs and stakeholders.
New Straits Times
09-07-2025
- Business
- New Straits Times
'BAM will gain from Pearly-Thinaah million-ringgit deal'
KUALA LUMPUR: While women's doubles Pearly Tan-M. Thinaah are set to earn up to RM1 million each anually under their new contracts, sports analyst Dr Pekan Ramli believes the bigger winner could be the BA of Malaysia (BAM). Pearly-Thinaah are expected to sign a new deal with BAM this week, bringing an end to months of speculation over their national team future after the previous contracts expired in December. The contract extension is expected to see them stay with BAM until at least the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. Pekan said BAM stands to benefit commercially from retaining the country's top women's pair, currently ranked world No. 3. "With Pearly-Thinaah staying, BAM secures a valuable commercial asset. Their presence will help attract major sponsors. The deal makes sense for both parties," he said. Pekan felt that the reported package is a good deal for the players, sparing them the logistical and financial challenges of turning professional. "If they go independent, they'd need to manage their own coaches, sparring, travel and planning. That requires serious resources. With BAM, all that's taken care of — they just focus on playing." Pekan pointed out that Pearly-Thinaah will also get to keep their prize money from tournaments. Meanwhile badminton legend Datuk Rashid Sidek said the million-ringgit figure for Pearly-Thinaah is justifiable given the current market rates. "They deserve it. If they were professionals, they might even earn more," he said. However, Rashid cautioned that BAM must ensure that such high salaries do not undermine its broader development goals. "If too much of the budget goes to just a few players, it limits support for others, especially juniors. BAM isn't like a private sponsor — they need to manage the whole programme," he said. Rashid said Pearly-Thinaah made the right decision to remain under BAM, as there is stability and support from the Youth and Sports Ministry.
New Straits Times
30-06-2025
- Sport
- New Straits Times
'Don't sideline home-grown swimmers', says critic
KUALA LUMPUR: Sports critic Datuk Dr Pekan Ramli said Malaysia's move to get heritage swimmers is a positive step, but warned against sidelining home-grown talent. The national body, Malaysia Aquatics (MAS) has revealed that it is on the lookout for swimmers of Malaysian heritage overseas. MAS deputy president Marilyn Chua said recently they had identified potential candidates in Australia, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and the United States. The National Sports Council (NSC) has backed the move, saying it aligns with practices already seen in Southeast Asia. NSC director-general Jefri Ngadirin said countries like the Philippines had adopted similar approaches during the 2019 Sea Games. Pekan said: "This is actually a good effort. But it's not like we don't have talent. If we work hard enough, we shouldn't need to look abroad. "But if there are suitable candidates, they can add value to the national team." Pekan said a larger physique, like long limbs and height, greatly aids swimming, but he believes Malaysia has capable athletes and shouldn't rely too much on foreign swimmers. He said the ultimate goal is still the development of Malaysian swimmers. "Heritage swimmers can strengthen the team, but they shouldn't overshadow our own talent.
New Straits Times
29-06-2025
- Sport
- New Straits Times
Pekan Ramli has a sinking feeling about Malaysian swimming
KUALA LUMPUR: The recent Malaysia Aquatics (MAS) elections were a missed opportunity for much-needed leadership renewal, said sports critic Datuk Dr Pekan Ramli. He believes that a change in MAS direction is essential to reviving the country's ailing swimming fortunes. At its Annual General Meeting on Saturday, MAS announced that Datuk Seri Dr Shahidan Kassim has retained his president's post unopposed, and will continue for another two years. Pekan expressed his disappointment over the outcome, describing it as a step towards stagnation. While acknowledging the political reality of Shahidan's presidency, Pekan felt that the national association should have used the opportunity to pass the baton to a younger generation. "Frankly, I was hoping for a change in leadership," he said when contacted by Timesport today. "This was a moment when a transition could have taken place. We need to give responsibility to younger individuals to lead sports like this." He also dwelled on the lack of leadership challenge, suggesting potential candidates may not have had sufficient backing from affiliates or lacked confidence. "It could be that they have not yet received support from affiliates, or perhaps the younger leaders do not feel ready to helm the association," said Pekan. Malaysia won only two gold medals in swimming in the last two Sea Games, and Pekan believes this shows how far the country has fallen behind its regional rivals. "Our swimming has clearly declined. A change is needed," he said. Pekan noted that only MAS deputy president Marilyn Chua had spoken about plans to bring heritage swimmers to add depth and quality to the national team. "I would have liked to hear directly from the president about his plans to revive the sport, especially with Malaysia set to host the 2027 Sea Games," said Pekan.
