There have been countless calls for politicians to stay out of sports. Even several former Sports Ministers have called for an end of it in the past and ultimately failed.
In football, HRH Major General Tunku Ismail Ibni Sultan Ibrahim, Crown Prince of Johor has on numerous occasions called for the same and his club, Johor Darul Ta’zim FC (JDT) is a perfect example of why we are better of without the politicians.
The dynamics of Malaysian football has seen many state government leaders doubling up as football chiefs or occupying positions among the top brass — largely due to easier access to state funds and assets. Some associations even have it provided for in their Constitution.
While it has facilitated funds flowing into football, the positives aren't plenty... if any.
First, there is a strong argument that state funds, which is essentially from the taxpayers, shouldn't be wasted on football as there hasn't been any real investment in long-term development — youth & infrastructure — nor efforts to truly commercialise the sport.
It has been a case of the year in, year out of spending almost everything in building a strong team without investments for the future. Sans JDT, none have facilities of a professional club such as a stadium, dedicated fully equipped training grounds for seniors and juniors and proper football facilities despite enjoying funds from the government for years.
For all the facilities and assets Johor Darul Ta'zim FC has accumulated since the club was established in 2013, none have come from government funding.
JDT have not utilised government funds since the Crown Prince of Johor entered football. Instead, the club has maximised its potential through branding and commercialisation, and now attracts corporate sponsors — both international and domestic.
The major difference between JDT and other state-based teams is that while Tunku Ismail is passionate about football and is in it for the long-term, politicians are often in it for instant success and popularity. Given the relatively short term of a politician (even shorter in today's dynamics!), there is little emphasis on building for the future.
This also invites problems such as salary hiccups, drastic changes in policies and politicking when there is a new government.
And therein lies the biggest setback in having politicians at the helm of football in Malaysia.
The results on the pitch have been telling too for JDT. While other teams have only had successful eras spanning 3-4 years and won a maximum of two straight top-flight titles, the Southern Tigers have unprecedentedly dominated Malaysian football with 16 trophies (26 if you include Academy success) in just 7 years — including a multiple record-breaking seven consecutive Malaysia Super League trophies and the coveted 2015 AFC Cup.
Another key to JDT's success was how the Crown Prince of Johor kept politics and personal agendas out of football.
"As long as they are comfortable with the government's backing and or have wrong individuals in positions at their clubs, they will never go anywhere.
"Unless they have the right guy who's fulltime with no other agendas, just wants to work for football and considers it a profession, then it will work. But if someone had been put there for other reasons, then it will never work," Tunku Ismail told NST.
This was also why Tunku Ismail has insisted on hiring "football people" and those passionate about the sport at JDT.
It is all about the football and consistently improving standards in an endless pursuit for success at JDT, instead of a desire for success simply in search of political mileage, popularity dan fulfilling personal agendas.
Former journalist Vijhay is Head of Content at Johor Darul Ta'zim FC following stints with Malay Mail, Sports247. my and FourFourTwo Malaysia. You may have also heard him on BFM Football or watched him on Media Prima's football programmes. Vijhay can be reached at @vijhayvick on Twitter.
