Kuala Lumpur: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim attended the highly anticipated post-season friendly match between Manchester United and the ASEAN All-Stars at the Bukit Jalil National Stadium. The event, which was part of the Maybank Challenge Cup, attracted over 72,500 fans from Malaysia and other parts of the region.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Anwar, an ardent Manchester United supporter, showed his support by wearing an ASEAN All-Stars jersey layered with a Manchester United jacket. He was accompanied by Youth and Sports Minister Hannah Yeoh, and together they greeted the starting eleven from both teams before the match kicked off.

During the event, Anwar received a mock cheque for RM1 million from ASEAN Football Federation (AFF) president Major General Khiev Sameth, which was presented to Yayasan Al-Sultan Abdullah (YASA). The match itself saw Manchester United’s stars, including Andre Onana, Harry Maguire, and Bruno Fernandes, compete under the guidance of head coach Ruben Amorim.

The AS
EAN All-Stars, coached by South Korean tactician Kim Sang Sik and captained by Sergio Aguero, achieved a surprising 1-0 victory over Manchester United, with Myanmar’s Maung Maung Lwin scoring the decisive goal in the 72nd minute. This result added to Manchester United’s challenges after a tough season.

Following the match, Anwar presented medals and the trophy to the players. The friendly coincided with significant regional summits, including the 46th ASEAN Summit and the 2nd ASEAN-Gulf Cooperation Council Summit. This match marked Manchester United’s return to Malaysia since their 2009 pre-season tour. After this event, the team is set to continue their tour in Hong Kong.