TMJ Slams Doubts Over NRD Records in Heritage Player Controversy

JOHOR BARU, Dec 11: Acting Johor Ruler Tunku Mahkota Ismail (TMJ) has criticized parties who place greater trust in foreign documents over Malaysia’s own National Registration Department (NRD), amid allegations of falsified heritage player status involving seven national footballers.

Speaking to Sinar Harian, TMJ said questioning the legitimacy of Malaysian-issued birth certificates not only challenges the integrity of official government records but also undermines the country’s sovereignty.

He stressed that if NRD documents can be so easily dismissed, it opens the door to disputing the citizenship status of countless Malaysians.

“Take this example: a foreign document states a player’s grandfather was born overseas, while our NRD record states he was born in Malaysia. Suddenly, people believe the foreign document over ours,” he said.

“Why should theirs be correct and ours wrong? If NRD documents can be doubted so easily, then maybe your own citizenship could be questioned too.”

TMJ, who is also the owner of Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT), criticized the sudden surge of self-proclaimed ‘experts’ commenting on the issue, while long-standing problems in Malaysian football continue to be ignored.

He pointed out that crucial issues such as financial mismanagement, unpaid salaries, and weak grassroots development are seldom discussed with the same intensity.

“Everyone wants to talk when it comes to allegations. Everyone suddenly becomes a coach or a FIFA president. But no one asks why Malaysian football is not progressing,” he said.

He revealed that Penang FA had once sought RM500,000 in funding from him because Penang FC had allegedly not channelled funds for youth programs.

TMJ added that FIFA had previously approved the eligibility of the seven heritage players, making the current uproar over alleged falsification unnecessary and misleading.

“When the decision was made, FIFA approved it. Only later does it become an issue. People choose to focus on sensational matters instead of the real problems harming our football,” he said.