KUALA LUMPUR – The Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) is open to reducing its reliance on the Bukit Jalil National Stadium (SNBJ) and exploring the possibility of hosting Harimau Malaya matches at stadiums nationwide, provided the facilities and pitches meet international standards.
This comes in response to growing frustration among fans on social media, who have lamented the need to travel hundreds of kilometres to watch matches at SNBJ, despite the availability of alternative venues across the country.
FAM president, Datuk Joehari Mohd Ayob, acknowledged these concerns but emphasised that SNBJ remains the most viable and strategic venue due to its accessibility and capacity, which allows more fans to attend Harimau Malaya matches.
For context, the 85,500-seat SNBJ—built for the 1998 Commonwealth Games—has long served as the nation’s premier football venue, hosting approximately 10 international matches annually.
The Shah Alam Stadium also enjoyed a strong following for Harimau Malaya matches for over three decades before its closure for redevelopment.
“SNBJ has always been our home, forming an integral part of Harimau Malaya’s football identity for more than two decades. It’s not that FAM is overly reliant on SNBJ—it simply remains the best stadium for us to host matches in every regard.
“Of course, we are open to breaking this so-called dependency and considering other options, but are other stadiums nationwide ready? Can they accommodate international matches? As far as I know, only a handful meet the necessary standards.
“One of FAM’s key policies is to bring Harimau Malaya closer to fans from all states and all walks of life. However, for us to play in different venues, state stadium owners must ensure their facilities are of top quality and suitable for hosting international matches.
“The most crucial factor is the pitch condition, followed by overall stadium infrastructure. If these aspects meet the required standards, we have no issues with playing at different stadiums across the country, including those in Sabah and Sarawak,” Joehari told the media during a recent Iftar event.
Apart from SNBJ and Shah Alam Stadium, Harimau Malaya has played at various stadiums over the past two decades, including Sultan Ibrahim Stadium (SSI) in Johor, Kuala Lumpur Football Stadium, Penang City Stadium, Larkin Stadium (Johor), Perak Stadium, Kota Bharu Stadium (Kelantan), and Temerloh Stadium (Pahang).
Notably, SSI has been selected by FAM and the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) to host Malaysia’s opening Group F match of the 2027 AFC Asian Cup Qualifiers against Nepal on March 25. — March 22, 2025