Malaysia A1 Semi-Pro League
 | |
| Organising body | Malaysian Football League (MFL) |
|---|---|
| Founded | 13 January 2019 |
| Country | Malaysia South Korea |
| Confederation | AFC |
| Number of clubs | 16 |
| Level on pyramid | 2 |
| Promotion to | Malaysia Super League |
| Relegation to | Malaysia A2 Amateur League |
| Domestic cup(s) | Malaysia FA Cup Malaysia Cup MFL Challenge Cup |
| Current champions | Melaka (1st title) (2024–25) |
| Most championships | Kelantan Darul Naim PIB Shah Alam Immigration Melaka (1 title each) |
| Broadcaster(s) | MYTV AFL (YouTube) |
| Website | https://the-afl.my/ |
| Current: 2025–26 Malaysia A1 Semi-Pro League | |
The Malaysia A1 Semi-Pro League (Malay: Liga A1 Semi-Pro Malaysia, previously known as the Malaysia M3 League and 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]
History
[edit]In 2018, the Malaysia M3 League was supposed to form the fourth division of the Malaysian football. However, the Football Association of Malaysia announced it as a replacement for the Malaysia FAM League to form the third division.[3][4][5][6] After rebranding of the Football Malaysia Limited Liability Partnership (FMLLP) to the Malaysian Football League (MFL), the company announced a reform of the lower league competitions.[7][8] In 2019, a new subsidiary known as the Amateur Football League (AFL), was formed.[9] The AFL officially confirmed the formation of the Malaysia M3 League and the Malaysia M4 League as the third and fourth divisions.[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 clubs.[12] At the end of the season, the top club 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 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]
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Logo used from 2019 to 2022 -
Logo used until the end of the 2024–25 season
.jpg)
Clubs
[edit]A total of 54 clubs have played in the Malaysia A1 Semi-Pro League from its inception.
Current
[edit]| # | Club | Previous season | First season | Number
of seasons |
Titles | Last title |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Armed Forces
|
8th | 2018 | 7 | 0 | 0 |
| 2 |  Bunga Raya
|
4th | 2024–25 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 3 |  Machan
|
14th | 2024–25 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 4 |  Malaysian University
|
5th | 2022 | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| 5 |  Manjung City
|
9th | 2019 | 6 | 0 | 0 |
| 6 |  Perlis GSA
|
A2 League, champions | 2025–26 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 7 |  Wan Tendong Stable
|
A2 League, runners-up | 2025–26 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 8 |  Johor Darul Ta'zim II
|
Transfer from MFL Cup | 2025–26 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 9 | Selangor II
|
Transfer from MFL Cup | 2025–26 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 10 |  Kedah Darul Aman
|
Expelled from Super League | 2025–26 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 11 |  Immigration II
|
Debut | 2025–26 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 12 | Kelantan Red Warrior
|
Debut | 2025–26 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 13 | Kedah FA
|
Debut | 2025–26 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 14 | Perak FA
|
Debut | 2025–26 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 15 |  Seoul Phoenix
|
Debut | 2025–26 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 16 | UM-Damansara United
|
Debut | 2025–26 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
Former clubs
[edit]Below are the records of clubs that have played in the A1 League since its established in 2019. Clubs in bold are in the Malaysia Super League as of the 2025–26; clubs in italic no longer exist.
| Club | Joined | Final season | Best result |
|---|---|---|---|
| BRM
|
2022 | 2023 | 3rd (2022) |
 Bukit Tambun
|
2022 | 2024–25 | 4th (2023) |
| Gombak
|
2024–25 | 2024–25 | 7th (2024–25) |
| Harini
|
2019 | 2024–25 | 3rd (2023) |
 IKRAM Muda
|
2020 | 2020 | Season abandoned |
| Immigration
|
2020 | 2024–25 | Champions (2023) |
| Johor Bahru
|
2019 | 2019 | 11th (2019) |
| Kelantan United
|
2016 (FAM League) | 2019 | Champions (2019) |
| Kijang Rangers
|
2022 | 2022 | 10th (2022) |
 Kinabalu Jaguar
|
2022 | 2022 | Quarter-final (2022) |
| Klasiko
|
2020 | 2020 | Season abandoned |
 Kuala Terengganu Rovers
|
2019 | 2020 | 7th (2019) |
| Kuala Lumpur Rovers
|
2020 | 2024–25 | Runners-up (2022, 2023) |
| Kuching
|
2017 (FAM League) | 2019 | Runners-up (2019) |
| Langkawi
|
2022 | 2022 | 10th (2022) |
| Langkawi City
|
2019 | 2022 | 8th (2022) |
 Melaka
|
2023 | 2024–25 | Champions (2024–25) |
| Melaka City
|
2020 | 2020 | Season abandoned |
| Melawati
|
2019 | 2020 | 8th (2019) |
| Naga UKS
|
2019 | 2023 | 5th (2019) |
| NLFC-MAHSA
|
2020 | 2020 | Season abandoned |
| Penjara
|
2019 | 2019 | 13th of 14 (2019) |
| Perlis United
|
2020 | 2023 | 8th (2023) |
| PIB Shah Alam
|
2020 | 2024–25 | Champions (2022) |
| Putrajaya Athletic
|
2024–25 | 2024–25 | 6th (2024–25) |
| Protap
|
2019 | 2020 | 14 (2019) |
| Real Chukai
|
2022 | 2022 | 9th (2022) |
| Respect
|
2022 | 2022 | 7th (2022) |
 SAINS
|
2020 | 2023 | 5th (2023) |
| SAMB
|
2019 | 2019 | 9th(2019) |
| Sarawak
|
2020 | 2020 | Season abandoned |
| Sarawak United
|
2023 | 2023 | 12th (2023) |
| Semarak
|
2020 | 2020 | Season abandoned |
| Thai Selangor
|
2020 | 2020 | Season abandoned |
| Tok Janggut Warriors
|
2022 | 2022 | 8th (2022) |
| Tun Razak City
|
2019 | 2022 | 9th (2022) |
| UiTM United
|
2024–25 | 2024–25 | 13th (2024–25) |
 YPM
|
2024–25 | 2024–25 | 10th (2024–25) |
Champions, runners-up, third places
[edit]| Year | Champion | Runner-up | Third place |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | Kelantan United
|
Kuching
|
Armed Forces
|
| 2020 | Cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic | ||
| 2021 | Not held | ||
| 2022 | PIB Shah Alam
|
Kuala Lumpur Rovers
|
Immigration BRM FC
|
| 2023 | Immigration
|
Kuala Lumpur Rovers
|
Harini
|
| 2024–25 | Melaka
|
Immigration
|
Kuala Lumpur Rovers
|
Records and achievements
[edit]Golden boot winners
[edit]Below is the list of golden boot winners of the league since its inception in 2019.
| Season | Player | Club | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | Fakhrul Zaman
|
Kelantan United | 28 |
| 2022 | Firdaus Azizul
|
Immigration | 22 |
| 2023 | Azim Rahim
|
Immigration | 24 |
| 2024–25 | Azim Rahim
|
Melaka | 22 |
Foreign players
[edit]- 2019: 2 foreign players.
- 2020: 4 foreign players including 2 U20 foreign players.
- 2021-2023: foreign players banned
- 2024-2025: 2 U21 foreign players
See also
[edit]- FAM Football Awards
- History of Malaysian football
- Expatriate footballers in Malaysia
- List of foreign Malaysian League players
- Football in Malaysia
References
[edit]- ^ 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
- ^ 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.
- ^ "FAM Cup to be contested as knockout competition in 2019 | Goal.com Malaysia". www.goal.com. 19 December 2018. Retrieved 20 December 2023.
- ^ Hashim, Firdaus (13 November 2018). "FAM Cup faces uncertainty, MFL ready to step in | New Straits Times". NST Online. Retrieved 20 December 2023.
- ^ "Piala FAM 2019 | FAM". www.fam.org.my. Retrieved 20 December 2023.
- ^ "FAM cadang perkenal format baharu Liga FAM". www.astroawani.com. Retrieved 9 April 2024.
- ^ Noor, Rizar Mohd (25 March 2018). "TMJ: Thank you Malaysian football and goodbye | New Straits Times". NST Online. Retrieved 20 December 2023.
- ^ 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
- ^ "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.
- ^ 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
- ^ https://www.foxsports.com.my/liga-malaysia/38174/gambaran-struktur-piramid-bola-sepak-malaysia-2019/ Gambaran struktur piramid bola sepak Malaysia 2019
- ^ "AFL umum penstrukturan semula Liga M3, 20 pasukan dalam saingan musim 2020". Vocket FC.
- ^ "Pasukan bertanding ambil langkah positif penstrukturan Liga M3". Semuanya Bola.
- ^ "M3 League cancelled due to Covid-19". New Straits Times.
- ^ "M3 League competition cancelled again - AFL chairman". 14 September 2021.
