PETALING JAYA – Live within your means. That’s the message Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim has for local football clubs.
The Johor Crown Prince said clubs should not spend more than they have or they would land in debt and then asked money from the government.
“My advice to the other clubs, if you have RM10 (S$3.30), you should only spend RM5 and save the remainder, instead of having RM10 but spending RM15 and going into debt.
“If you can’t afford a Ferrari, buy a Toyota first,” said Tunku Ismail on the Johor Southern Tigers’ Facebook page on Saturday.
The post was related to a dialogue session held by the Crown Prince with Johor Darul Takzim football fans and the media on Friday.
Tunku Ismail chided clubs which went into debt and had to ask the government for funding, adding that he was aware of a “club from the east coast” that had recently asked the government for RM2m.
He called on Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak not to entertain such appeals.
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“To the prime minister, don’t bother with these requests because the government’s money is the people’s money, to be used for healthcare, education and all civil matters, not football.
“Football funds should come from sponsors with companies or businesses,” said Tunku Ismail.
With tongue in cheek, he asked if Selangor and Terengganu had no investors to sponsor their clubs.
“But when the sponsor offers to give RM2m but you ask for RM10m, it’s no surprise that they won’t give you the money,” he said.
