PETALING JAYA: The changing football climate in Malaysia has led QI Group to exit the Malaysian League, calling for new owners to take over Petaling Jaya City for next year’s Super League challenge.
After weeks of speculation, the company finally announced the decision to pull out from the league yesterday.
They are open to new investors but with the condition that they keep the name of the team.
PJ City president Datuk Seri Subahan Kamal said it would be tough for the all-local club to compete next season under the new league structure that allows teams to have nine foreigners – six (main team) and three (feeder side).
“It puts us in a difficult situation. It did not seem practical to compete in such an environment where teams will have the advantage of having nine foreign players,” said Subahan.
“We can go 100% local, but having additional foreigners in the league will be complicated. It will be even more difficult for us because the other teams will have extra depth.
“We respect MFL’s (Malaysia Football League) decision to change the league structure and make it commercially viable, but QI Group see the need to be practical. We will channel other ways to nurture and promote young local talents.”
He denied the club were folding due to financial reasons.
“QI Group used their own money to develop PJ City. We spent millions without thinking about returns.
“We only thought of helping Malaysian football by going full local and supporting the national team,” said Subahan.
“It’s akin to corporate social responsibility (CSR). You will never get anything back. You just want to help society.
“We’ve the means to help local football, but we will do it another way, which is by developing young local talents. That plan we will announce soon.
“Thanks to our Yakini Lokal (Believe Local) tagline, we have players like Darren (Lok), Kalamullah (Al-Hafiz), R. Kogileswaran and V. Ruventhiran playing for Harimau Malaya (the national football team).”
As for players who are still under contract with the club, he said the club would help them find new homes.
“I know many clubs are keen on our players, so we will find ways and means to take care of them. We will not abandon the boys.
“Players have to accept it. Every year, things change. That’s the reality of professional football.”
Since taking over from MISC-MIFA in 2019 and renaming the squad PJ City, the club have finished eighth in 2019 and seventh in 2020 and 2021.
This season, the Phoenix finished ninth in the Super League with 26 points and played in the last 16 of the Malaysia Cup.
