FAM to rely on corporate backing, own funds after missing out on Budget 2027 allocation

KUALA LUMPUR – The Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) will have to prioritise its programmes based on available finances and seek greater corporate and private-sector backing after Harimau Malaya missed out on a dedicated allocation in Budget 2027.

The national football governing body said it would continue working with the Youth and Sports Ministry (KBS) and relevant agencies to sustain the development of Malaysian football, following the government's decision not to earmark specific funding for the national team or FAM.

“The FAM respects the government's priorities in framing the Budget and hopes that support for the development of national football can be sustained through close cooperation with KBS and relevant agencies,” the national body said in response to queries from Scoop.

FAM added that it would prioritise programmes according to its available finances while seeking greater backing from corporate partners and the private sector to ensure the continued development of national football.

Under the 2025 Budget, the government allocated RM15 million specifically for Harimau Malaya and its youth development squads in collaboration with FAM.

The amount was subsequently doubled to RM30 million through a public-private matching mechanism aimed at strengthening administrative governance and technical development.

This followed an earlier RM5 million government allocation after Malaysia's 3-3 draw against South Korea at the 2023 Asian Cup.

However, despite the financial support, Malaysia have yet to make a breakthrough in World Cup qualification, while the development of a stronger talent pipeline remains a key challenge for the national set-up.

In Budget 2027, neither Harimau Malaya nor FAM was named in a dedicated allocation, with funding for sports channelled through broader development programmes.

The government allocated RM460 million for sports development and RM240 million for preparations for the 2027 SEA Games, alongside RM30 million for school sports activities.

However, the extent to which Malaysian football will benefit from these allocations remains uncertain, particularly as the government has yet to detail the distribution mechanism or the specific amount available to the sport.

Asked how much funding it expected to receive from the sports development allocation and the SEA Games fund, FAM said it had not established an estimate.

“In the meantime, FAM has not set any estimate of the funding to be received from the government in preparation for the 2027 SEA Games, given that the distribution mechanism and specific allocation for football have yet to be detailed,” it said.

Nevertheless, FAM said it would continue engaging with the ministry and relevant agencies to ensure the national under-23 squad's preparations for the regional competition were taken into consideration.

“FAM will continue to work closely with the ministry and relevant agencies to ensure that the preparation needs of the national football squad ahead of the 2027 SEA Games receive due consideration,” it said.

The absence of a dedicated allocation raises questions over how Malaysian football will finance its national team and youth development programmes, particularly as the sport continues to face pressure to translate public investment into stronger results on the international stage. - October 12, 2026

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