Johor bahru: Allegations that a large portion of Johor Darul Ta'zim (JDT) football club's revenue supposedly comes from public or government funds is inaccurate and misleading, Johor Menteri Besar Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi said. He stated that references to the Johor State Sports Council and government-related channels in the club's financial statements are part of normal administrative procedures within the country's sports sponsorship ecosystem.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Onn Hafiz explained that many sponsorships from private companies are channelled through the Sports Council for governance and tax-relief purposes. He emphasized that the figures cited by certain parties should not be equated with direct government funding for the club's operations.

Onn Hafiz further clarified that any government grants or contributions are specifically designated for grassroots sports development. These include youth football development programmes, district-level tournaments, and initiatives to strengthen the state football ecosystem through the Johor State Football Association and district associations. He assured that these funds are not used for the operational purposes of the professional JDT team.

The Menteri Besar urged all parties to be more responsible and prudent in verifying facts before making accusations or conclusions. He warned that the spread of inaccurate information can mislead the public and potentially undermine efforts to develop a healthy and professional sports ecosystem in the state of Johor.