Kuala Lumpur: Youth and Sports Minister Hannah Yeoh has urged for calm regarding the debate over heritage-status players in the national football team. She emphasized that these players, who possess Malaysian blood ties, are fully entitled to represent the country on the field.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Yeoh stated that if heritage players can enhance the national team’s performance, there should be no issue with their inclusion. She pointed out that these players are Malaysians and should be supported, highlighting the recent parliamentary efforts to amend the Federal Constitution to allow Malaysian women to confer citizenship to their overseas-born children.

The Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) has recently faced scrutiny for allegedly over-relying on heritage players and external expertise to build the Harimau Malaya squad. Yeoh remarked that the priority should be ensuring these players feel at home, with local fans backing them.

Adding to the discourse, the Regent of Johor, Tunku Mahkota Ismail, voiced his dissatisfaction with the continuous criticism directed at advancing the country’s football landscape, including the participation of heritage players.