KUALA LUMPUR – Syamer Kutty Abba has yet to commit to a contract extension with Penang FC, leaving his future with the club uncertain ahead of the 2025/26 Malaysia League season.
The 28-year-old midfielder, who began his professional career with the Black Panthers in 2013, returned to the club on loan last season after spending five years with Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT), where he made 43 appearances following his debut in 2018.
During his loan stint, Syamer captained Penang and clocked 1,835 minutes in all competitions. He remains contracted to JDT, but his deal with the Southern Tigers expires next month.
Speaking to Scoop, Penang FC general manager Jeffrey Chew Gim Eam said the club had tabled an improved offer in hopes of signing Syamer on a permanent basis.
“We are currently in contract negotiations with Syamer and have offered him a good permanent deal with revised wages. The discussions are ongoing, and we cannot comment further until things are finalised before the new season begins.
“But for now, we leave it to Syamer to decide on his future – whether he would like to remain with us or return to the club that owns him.
“From our perspective, we would certainly love to keep Syamer, especially as he was our captain last season.
“We also aim to retain players who registered high playing minutes. We expect to know the outcome of Syamer’s situation in the months ahead,” said Jeffrey.
Renowned for his versatility in midfield, Syamer has won 14 titles with JDT and earned 74 caps across various national team levels – from Under-17 to the senior squad.
Meanwhile, Jeffrey revealed that Penang have completed 95% of their player signings for the upcoming season, with announcements expected once the club finalises its budget with the Malaysian Football League’s Financial Fair Play (FFP) committee.
“We’re currently in recruitment overdrive and have already secured 95% of the squad we need for the new season.
“Some of our previous players, such as Richmond Ankrah who was on loan from Selangor FC, have left the club – giving us room to bring in fresh faces.
“However, we cannot make any announcements until we submit our budget to the FFP. Once that’s done, we’ll begin unveiling our new signings through official platforms,” he added.
Penang finished 10th in the 2024 Super League season, collecting 26 points in a 13-team competition. — May 4, 2025