Malaysia A1 Semi-Pro League

The Malaysia A1 Semi-Pro League (Malay: Liga A1 Semi-Pro Malaysia, previously known as the Malaysia M3 League, currently known as the MBSB Bank Championship due to sponsorship reasons) is the second level football league of the Malaysian football league system.[1] The league was created as part of the Malaysian Football League's plan to reform the domestic league structure, and replacement of the former Malaysia FAM League.[2]

MBSB Bank Championship
Organising bodyMalaysian Football League (MFL)
Founded13 January 2019; 5 years ago (2019-01-13)
CountryMalaysia
ConfederationAFC
Number of teams15
Level on pyramid2
Promotion toMalaysia Super League
Relegation toMalaysia A2 Amateur League
Domestic cup(s)Malaysia FA Cup
Malaysia Cup
MFL Challenge Cup
Current championsImmigration FC (1st title)
(2023)
Most championshipsKelantan Darul Naim
PIB Shah Alam
Immigration FC
(1 title each)
TV partnersMYTV
Current: 2024–25 Malaysia A1 Semi-Pro League

History

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In 2018, the Malaysia M3 League was supposed to form the fourth division of the Malaysian football league system. However, after the Football Association of Malaysia confirmed a reform of the Malaysia FAM League to return to a knockout competition format, the league was announced as a replacement for the Malaysia FAM League to form the de facto third division of the Malaysian football league system.[3][4][5][6]

After a rebranding of the Football Malaysia Limited Liability Partnership (FMLLP) to the Malaysian Football League (MFL) in March 2018, the company announced a reform of the lower league competitions in Malaysia.[7][8] In 2019, a new subsidiary of the company was formed, known as the Amateur Football League (AFL) which was tasked to manage the new third division and below.[9] The AFL officially confirmed the formation of the Malaysia M3 League and the Malaysia M4 League as the third and fourth divisions of the Malaysian football league system.[10]

A total of 14 clubs were confirmed to compete in the inaugural season of the newly reformed third division, with the Malaysia M3 League replacing the former Malaysia FAM League.[11] Qualified champions from the 5 FA State leagues and 9 Social leagues in 2018 were promoted to the inaugural 2019 Malaysia M3 League season.

For the 2020 season, the Malaysia M3 League was divided into two groups of 10 teams.[12] At the end of the season, the top team from each group was promoted to the Malaysia Premier League.[13] This however did not happen because of the cancellation of the 2020 season due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and was declared null and void.[14]

For the 2021 season, the AFL announced format changes for the Malaysia M3 League and Malaysia M4 League in preparation for more participating teams to become professional by 2022. However, due to the pandemic, AFL postponed the start of the season to late 2021, before cancelling it altogether.[15]

Champions, runners-up and third places

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Year Champion Runner-up Third place
2019   Kelantan United   Kuching City FC   Armed Forces FC
2020 Cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic
2021 not held due to the COVID-19 pandemic
2022   PIB Shah Alam   KL Rovers   Immigration FC
2023   Immigration FC   KL Rovers   Harini

Wins by the clubs

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Club Wins
  Kelantan United FC 1
  PIB Shah Alam 1
  Immigration FC 1

Performance by club (2019–present)

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Club Winners Runners-up
Kelantan United 1 (2019)
PIB Shah Alam 1 (2022)
Immigration FC 1 (2023)
KL Rovers 2 (2022, 2023)
Kuching City FC 1 (2019)

Season

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The following 14 clubs contested the league in its inaugural season, including the 3 clubs from the 2018 Malaysia FAM League. 10 clubs were promoted from the 2018 Malaysia M4 League (previously known as the Malaysia M5 League). 4 clubs have withdrawn from the competition and 1 club was invited by the organizer to participate in the competition which were Tun Razak City F.C.

Club Previous league
in 2018
Position
in
2018
First season in
third-tier
First season in
M3 League
Seasons
in
third-tier
Seasons
in
M3 League
First season of
current spell in
M3 League
Title wins Last
title win
Armed Forces Malaysia FAM League 3rd 2018 2019 1 2 2019 0 -
Banggol Tok Ku Terengganu Amateur League 1st - 2019 - 2 2019 0 -
Harini F.C. South Selangor League 1st - 2019 - 2 2019 0 -
Dak-dak Melawati Selangor Social Premier League 1st - 2019 - 2 2019 0 -
Langkawi City Subang Football League 1st - 2019 - 2 2019 0 -
Johor Bahru Johor Darul Ta’zim League 1st 2019 1 2019 0 -
Kelantan United Malaysia FAM League 7th 2016 2019 3 1 2019 1 2019
Kuching City Malaysia FAM League 4th 2017 2019 2 1 2019 0 -
Penjara PBNS President Cup League 1st 2009 2019 4 1 2019 0 -
Protap Shah Alam League 1st - 2019 - 2 2019 0 -
Manjung City Puchong Community League 1st - 2019 - 1 2019 0 -
SAMB Melaka Division 1 League 1st 2016 2019 3 1 2019 0 -
Tun Razak - 2019 - 1 2019 0 -
Ultimate AXA Klang Valley League 1st - 2019 - 2 2019 0 -

Note :

1)Third-tier also represents the previous third-tier in the Malaysian football league system which was the Malaysia FAM League (2008–2018)

2)Batu Dua changed their name to Harini F.C.[16]

Other clubs

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The following clubs are not competing in the Malaysia M3 League during the 2019 season, but competed in the third-tier or Malaysia M3 League for at least one season.

Club Current League Position
in
2018
First season in
third-tier
First season in
M3 League
Seasons
in
third-tier
Seasons
in
M3 League
Most recent
season in
M3 League
Title wins Last
title win
D'AR Wanderers - 3rd in FAM League
(Group B)
Kuala Lumpur City Hall - 6th in FAM League
(Group A)
Terengganu Hanelang -
Marcerra United -
Ministry of Finance -
Sarawak United Malaysia Super League 1st in FAM League
(Group A)
Perlis 5th in FAM League (Group B)
Petaling Jaya Rangers FAS Super League 2nd in FAM League
(Group B)
Shahzan Muda
Terengganu City 1st in FAM League
(Group B)
Young Fighters
FELCRA - 2nd in Premier League
KDMM
Sime Darby
UKM 8th in Premier League

Note : Third-tier also represents the previous third-tier in the Malaysian football league system which was the Malaysia FAM League (2008–2018)

Records and achievements

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Golden Boot winners

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Below is the list of golden boot winners of the league since its inception in 2019.

Season Player Club Goals
2019   Fakhrul Zaman Kelantan 28
2022   Firdaus Azizul Immigration 22
2023   Azim Rahim Immigration 24

See also

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References

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  1. ^ http://johorsoutherntigers.com.my/14-state-and-social-league-organisers-sign-agreement-to-join-m5-league/ Archived 22 February 2019 at the Wayback Machine 14 STATE AND SOCIAL LEAGUE ORGANISERS SIGN AGREEMENT TO JOIN M5 LEAGUE
  2. ^ Eric Samuel (7 May 2015). "More domestic football on TV next season". The Star. Archived from the original on 27 February 2018. Retrieved 4 December 2017.
  3. ^ "FAM Cup to be contested as knockout competition in 2019 | Goal.com Malaysia". www.goal.com. 19 December 2018. Retrieved 20 December 2023.
  4. ^ Hashim, Firdaus (13 November 2018). "FAM Cup faces uncertainty, MFL ready to step in | New Straits Times". NST Online. Retrieved 20 December 2023.
  5. ^ "Piala FAM 2019 | FAM". www.fam.org.my. Retrieved 20 December 2023.
  6. ^ "FAM cadang perkenal format baharu Liga FAM". www.astroawani.com. Retrieved 9 April 2024.
  7. ^ Noor, Rizar Mohd (25 March 2018). "TMJ: Thank you Malaysian football and goodbye | New Straits Times". NST Online. Retrieved 20 December 2023.
  8. ^ https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/sport/johor-crown-prince-resigns-as-fam-president-appointed-as-10076070 Johor crown prince resigns as FAM President, appointed as Malaysia Football League chairman
  9. ^ "14 amateur leagues confirmed as part of inaugural Malaysian tier five season | Goal.com Malaysia". www.goal.com. 25 March 2018. Retrieved 20 December 2023.
  10. ^ https://www.foxsports.com.my/malaysia/46879/14-pasukan-sedia-bersaing-di-liga-m3-malaysia-2019/ 14 pasukan sedia bersaing di Liga M3 Malaysia 2019
  11. ^ https://www.foxsports.com.my/liga-malaysia/38174/gambaran-struktur-piramid-bola-sepak-malaysia-2019/ Gambaran struktur piramid bola sepak Malaysia 2019
  12. ^ "AFL umum penstrukturan semula Liga M3, 20 pasukan dalam saingan musim 2020". Vocket FC.
  13. ^ "Pasukan bertanding ambil langkah positif penstrukturan Liga M3". Semuanya Bola.
  14. ^ "M3 League cancelled due to Covid-19". New Straits Times.
  15. ^ "M3 League competition cancelled again - AFL chairman". 14 September 2021.
  16. ^ "Batu Dua FC Sudah Tiada, Kini Bergelar Harini FC". Semuanya BOLA. 10 January 2020. Retrieved 22 October 2021.