Malaysia A2 Amateur League Explained

The Malaysia A2 Amateur League (Malay: '''Liga A2 Amatur Malaysia''', previously known as the Malaysia M4 League, or also known as the Al-Ikhsan Cup for sponsorship reasons, is an third tier football league in the Malaysian football league system.^[1] The league was created in 2018 as part of the Malaysian Football League's plan to reform the Malaysian football league structure.

After a rebranding of the Malaysian Football League (MFL) in March 2018, the company announced a reform of lower league competitions in Malaysia.^{[2] [3]} In 2019, a new subsidiary of the company was formed, known as the Amateur Football League (AFL) which was tasked to manage the third division and below.^[4] The AFL officially confirmed the formation of the Malaysia M3 League and Malaysia M4 League as the third and fourth divisions of the Malaysian football league system.^[5]

A total of 14 clubs were confirmed to compete in the inaugural season of the newly reformed third division, the Malaysia M3 League, which replaced the former Malaysia FAM League while the 5 FA state leagues and 9 social leagues ran in parallel to form the Malaysia M4 League.^[5]

History

Origins

See main article: History of Malaysian football and Football in Malaysia. Football arrived in Malaysia (British Malaya at that time) as courtesy of the British. The locals soon picked up the game, and before long it was the country's leading and most popular sport. Towards the end of the 19th century, football was one of the central pillars of most sports clubs in Malaya. However, it was not structured. Even when the Selangor Amateur Football League (SAFL) took shape in 1905 – which ensured proper administration and organisation – the competition was confined only to clubs in Kuala Lumpur.

The earliest recorded state football league took place in Penang, where YMCA won the league in 1909.^[6] The other earliest recorded winners of state football leagues were Johor in 1922 (P.W.D.A.A.), Malacca in 1929 (Malacca Chinese FA), Negeri Sembilan in 1929 (Nilai Club), Perak in 1932 (Perak Chinese RC) and Selangor in 1935 (Rangers).^[6] Alongside the leagues, cup competitions also took place.^[6]

By 1933 the administration for the football in Malaya was founded as the Football Association of Malaya (FAM), which managed the local football scene at that time.^[7] By 1954, the FAM joined FIFA as a member of the AFC.

Malaysia consists of thirteen states and three federal territories, separated by the South China Sea, with eleven states and two federal territories (Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya) in Peninsular Malaysia, and two states and one federal territory (Labuan) in East Malaysia (Borneo). Each state has its own sets of football leagues, and some may have multiple divisions with promotion and relegation rules among them.^[8] All leagues in all states run in parallel.

The leagues have a hierarchical format with promotion and relegation between league divisions at different levels, allowing even the smallest club the hypothetical possibility of ultimately rising to the very top of the system. The exact number of clubs varies from year to year as clubs join and leave leagues or fold altogether, but an estimated average of 10 clubs per division implies that hundreds of teams are members of a league in the Malaysian men's football league system.

For the 2021 season, the AFL has announced the format changes for the Malaysia M3 and M4 Leagues in preparation for the transition to semi-professional status.

Overview

The M4 league were part of the Malaysian football pyramid of leagues, bound together by the principle of promotion and relegation. A certain number of the most successful clubs in each state FA, social and community M5 league can rise to this division, whilst those that finish at the bottom of M3 league can find themselves relegate to this league. In addition to sporting performance, promotion is usually contingent on meeting criteria set by the higher league, especially concerning appropriate facilities and finances.

Clubs

2024-25

Below are the list of clubs who will join the 2024-25 season, based on the status gained from 2023 Malaysia M3 League and 2023 Malaysia M5 League.

Align=Left		Align=Left	Teams	Align=Left	League
VAlign=Top	1	VAlign=Top	AAK Ultimate	VAlign=Top	2023 Malaysia M3 League relegated team
VAlign=Top	2	VAlign=Top	Bunga Raya United F.C.	VAlign=Top	2023 RAFA Southern Selangor League finalist
VAlign=Top	3	VAlign=Top	Gombak City F.C.	VAlign=Top	2023 MAHSA-KRONOS M5 League champion
VAlign=Top	4	VAlign=Top	Guar Syed Alwi	VAlign=Top	2023 Perlis Super League champion
VAlign=Top	5	VAlign=Top	JAKIM FC	VAlign=Top	2023 Malaysia M4 League quarter-finalist
VAlign=Top	6	VAlign=Top	KG KU	VAlign=Top	2023 KLFA M5 League champion
VAlign=Top	7	VAlign=Top	Kuala Muda	VAlign=Top	Invited team
VAlign=Top	8	VAlign=Top	MAHSA United	VAlign=Top	2023 Malaysia M4 League participant
VAlign=Top	9	VAlign=Top	MP Port Dickson	VAlign=Top	2023 Malaysia M4 League semi-finalist
VAlign=Top	10	VAlign=Top	NBK Empire F.C.	VAlign=Top	2023 A-Ligue Champions League M5 finalist
VAlign=Top	11	VAlign=Top	Pencinta Setia F.C.	VAlign=Top	2023-24 PBDLMS M5 League participant
VAlign=Top	12	VAlign=Top	Real Mambau FC	VAlign=Top	2023 A-Ligue Nismilan semi-finalist
VAlign=Top	13	VAlign=Top	SAMB	VAlign=Top	Invited team
VAlign=Top	14	VAlign=Top	Semantan Troopers F.C.	VAlign=Top	2023 Pahang Amateur League finalist
VAlign=Top	15	VAlign=Top	SJ Virtuosos F.C.	VAlign=Top	2023 Putrajaya M5 League champion
VAlign=Top	16	VAlign=Top	Wan Tendong Stable	VAlign=Top	2023 Malaysia M4 League quarter-finalist

Promotion and relegation rules for the top four levels

1. Malaysia Super League (level 1, 14 teams): The bottom two teams are relegated. No relegation for 2023 season.
2. Malaysia A1 Semi-Pro League (level 2, 16 teams): The top two automatically promoted. The bottom two are relegated. The league not running in 2023
3. Malaysia A2 League (level 3, 36 teams): The top two teams are automatically promoted to Super League. Sometimes, teams might withdraw for financial reasons and might be given permission to play in their State Leagues.
4. Malaysia M4 League (level 4, 15 clubs).

Play-off champions and runners-up

width=90	Year	width=150	Champion	width=150	Runners-up	width=150	Result
2019	KSR SAINS	IKRAM Muda	1–0[9]
2020	cancelled and declared null and void due to COVID-19 pandemic
2021	cancelled and declared null and void due to COVID-19 pandemic
2022	No Tournament
2023	UiTM United	YPM FC	2–1
2024–25

See also

• Malaysia Super League
• Malaysia A1 Semi-Pro League
• Malaysia A3 Community League
• Malaysia FA Cup
• Malaysia Cup
• FAM Football Awards
• Football in Malaysia

Notes and References

1. Web site: 14 State and Social League Organisers Sign Agreement to Join M5 League. Johor Southern Tigers. 24 March 2018. 8 October 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190222132838/http://johorsoutherntigers.com.my/14-state-and-social-league-organisers-sign-agreement-to-join-m5-league/. 22 February 2019. dead.
2. Web site: TMJ: Thank you Malaysian football and goodbye. Rizar Mohd Noor. New Straits Times. 25 March 2018. 8 October 2019.
3. Web site: Johor crown prince resigns as FAM President, appointed as Malaysia Football League chairman. Bernama. Channel NewsAsia. 26 March 2018. 8 October 2019.
4. Web site: 14 amateur leagues confirmed as part of inaugural Malaysian tier five season. Zulhilmi Zainal. Goal.com. 25 March 2018. 8 October 2019.
5. Web site: 14 pasukan sedia bersaing di Liga M3 Malaysia 2019. ms. Fox Sports Malaysia. 1 February 2019. 8 October 2019.
6. Web site: Malaysia - List of Regional Champions and Cup Winners. Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. 4 January 2018. 28 February 2018.
7. Web site: Association Information [Football Association of Malaysia]]. https://web.archive.org/web/20150617214306/http://www.fifa.com/associations/association=mas/about.html. dead. 17 June 2015. FIFA. 28 February 2018.
8. Web site: Liga M musim baru mula November. ms. Utusan Malaysia. 21 August 2007. 28 February 2018.
9. Web site: Liga M3 2020 KSR SAINS tak mahu jadi pasukan cukup syarat. Semuanya Bola.