KUALA LUMPUR – The Regent of Johor, Tunku Mahkota Ismail, has questioned why some parties seem to trust foreign documents more than those from the National Registration Department (NRD) regarding the alleged falsification of heritage player status for seven national footballers.
Tunku Ismail said that doubts over the birth certificates of the seven heritage players appear to undermine the sovereignty of Malaysia’s laws.
He stressed that if Malaysia’s official documents can be so easily questioned, it indirectly casts doubt on the citizenship status of other Malaysians.
“For example, a foreign document says their grandfather was born there, while our document states he was born here. But suddenly the question is, ‘Oh, ours is not correct, theirs is correct.’
“Why should theirs be correct and ours not? If our NRD documents are wrong, then perhaps you might not be Malaysians either.
“If you can question NRD with their letters and documents, maybe you are not Malaysians either,” he said during an engagement session with Johor Darul Ta’zim Football Club (JDT) supporters in Johor Bahru yesterday.
The JDT owner also criticised some parties’ attitudes over the issue.
He noted that many people suddenly become ‘experts’ or ‘FIFA presidents’ when such matters arise, yet remain silent on real problems in Malaysian football, such as salary arrears and the failure of grassroots development.
“Everyone is eager to talk, everyone wants to be a coach. But no one talks about why Malaysian football is not progressing, such as cases of financial mismanagement and salary issues.
“For example, Penang FA came to see me asking for RM500,000. I gave it. Why? Because Penang FC did not want to give money to Penang FA for grassroots programmes.
“But when allegations of falsification involving these seven players arise, everyone focuses on that. At that time, it was FIFA itself who approved it. Later it becomes an issue of falsification,” he added. – December 11, 2025