KUCHING: Football Association of Sarawak (FAS) president Datuk Fazzrudin Abdul Rahman has defended the association’s football development plans after concerns were raised over the direction of the Sarawak Premier League, insisting the state’s football ecosystem needs time to mature before it can be fairly judged.
In a social media post, Fazzrudin rejected suggestions that FAS was attempting to create a separate professional football structure, stressing that the Sarawak Premier League and youth competitions were established to develop local talent and strengthen grassroots football in the state.
He said the Sarawak Premier League, which began last year, involves FAS affiliates comprising divisional football associations and PDRM Football Club, and was introduced as a platform to identify and nurture emerging football talents.
According to him, the initiative is part of a wider plan undertaken by FAS in collaboration with the state ministry to strengthen football development in Sarawak.
“The first phase of FAS’ planning is to revive interest in football at the divisional level. That is why the participation requirements in the first year were kept very simple,” he said.
Fazzrudin added that FAS intends to gradually introduce stricter requirements in the coming years, including mandatory Under-21 player participation, the appointment of B Licence coaches and fitness coaches, as well as other measures aimed at raising standards.
He stressed that building a competitive league structure takes time and should not be expected to deliver immediate results.
“We have only just started and now they are already warning us. How can we progress?” he said.
Fazzrudin also clarified that FAS has no intention of creating a separate professional football league, contrary to assumptions made by some parties.
Instead, he said the objective is to establish a clear development pathway that allows more Sarawakian players to eventually progress into professional football.
“We want more Sarawakian players to have the opportunity to play professionally,” he said.
Fazzrudin further urged critics to seek clarification before making conclusions about FAS’ intentions.
“If you don’t know what’s going on, don’t say anything. Ask first before you say anything. Don’t jump the gun,” he said.
His remarks came after a senior Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) source, as reported by Scoop, said that while grassroots and state-level competitions are welcomed, any attempt to create an unsanctioned professional structure would fall outside the governing body’s framework.
“State development football is something we fully support because it strengthens the foundation of the game.
“But once a league positions itself as a professional competition outside the recognised national structure, it cannot be treated as part of the official system. Malaysian football already operates within a defined pyramid, and that structure must be respected,” the source said.
Responding to the concerns, Fazzrudin questioned the understanding of Sarawak’s football structure among those issuing warnings and said that if the information truly originated from within FAM, it reflected a lack of understanding of grassroots football development.
“If this is how FAM handles issues involving its affiliates, then there is still a lot that needs to be reformed within FAM,” he said.
