Country Malaysia Confederation AFC | Other club(s) from Brunei Number of teams 13 (from 2003) | |
Founded April 4, 1998; 18 years ago (1998-04-04) Folded August 2, 2003; 13 years ago (2003-08-02) | ||
Malaysia Premier League 1 or Malaysia Premier League One (Malay: Liga Perdana Malaysia 1 or Liga Perdana Satu) was the nation's top-tier professional football league in Malaysia that operated from 1998 to 2003.
Contents
- Founding
- Teams
- Teams competing in 1998 season
- Teams competing in 1999 season
- Teams competing in 2000 season
- Teams competing in 2001 season
- Teams competing in 2002 season
- Teams competing in 2003 season
- Champions
- References
The league was formed and established in 1998 to succeed the Malaysia Premier League (1994–97) after FAM decision to allows clubs other than state FAs to compete in the professional level league in Malaysia. It was then succeeded in 2004 by the formation of Malaysia Super League by Football Association of Malaysia (FAM). The first game was played on April 4, 1998.
The last champions of Malaysia Premier League 1 is Perak which won the league for second straight season. Since the league inception, four teams has been the champion of Malaysia Premier League 1 where Perak, Pulau Pinang (2), Pahang and Selangor each wins one time.
Founding
A football league competition involving the representative sides of the state football associations was first held in Malaysia in 1979. When it began, it was intended primarily as a qualifying tournament for the final knock-out stages of the Malaysia Cup. It was not until 1982 that a League Cup was introduced to recognise the winners of the preliminary stage as the league champions. Over the years, the league competition has gained important stature in its own right.
Initially the only teams allowed to participate in the Malaysia Premier League were the state FA's sides, teams representing the Armed Forces and the Police, and teams representing the neighbouring countries of Singapore and Brunei (though the Football Association of Singapore pulled out of the Malaysian League after the 1994 season following a dispute with the Football Association of Malaysia over gate receipts, and has not been involved since).
Only in 1997 where promotion from Malaysia FAM Cup to the professional Malaysian League was introduced for the first time. Johor FC and NS Chempaka FC were the first two sides to be promoted that year to Malaysia Premier League 2 for 1998 season.
In 1998, Malaysia Premier League was divided into two divisions consist of Malaysia Premier League 1 and Malaysia Premier League 2 (Liga Perdana 1 and Liga Perdana 2 in Malay). During this time both of the division was still just referred as Malaysian League as a whole.
During 1998, Malaysia Premier League 1 consist of 12 teams while Malaysia Premier League 2 had 8 teams. 10 teams that previously qualified for Malaysia Cup which played in 1997 Malaysia Premier League was automatically qualified to Malaysia Premier League 1. The other two spots was filled by playoff round of 5 lowest teams in 1997 Malaysia Premier League and the Malaysian Olympic football team. The lowest four teams from playoff round will then put into Malaysia Premier League 2 alongside Police, Malaysia Military, Negeri Sembilan Chempaka F.C and PKN Johor. At this time the league still consist of semi-pro team where each team was allowed to register 25 players where 12 players must be a professional for Malaysia Premier League 1 and a minimum of six professional playes in Malaysia Premier League 2.
Both leagues continued until 2003 when Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) decided to privatise the league for 2004 season onwards where Malaysia Super League was formed. Teams in Malaysia Premier League 1 and Malaysia Premier League 2 was then was put through a qualification and playoff to be promoted into Malaysia Super League. Teams that failed the qualification was put into now a second-tier league Malaysia Premier League.
Teams
In its inaugural season 12 teams competing in the league. The teams were based from 10 best performing teams from 1997 Malaysia Premier League season. Penang and Olympic 2000 joins the league to complete the 12 teams list after winning the qualifying tournament.
Teams competing in 1998 season
12 teams competing in the first season of Malaysia Premier League 1.
Teams competing in 1999 season
10 teams competing in the second season of Malaysia Premier League 1. Terengganu was promoted while Selangor, Perlis and Olympic 2000 were relegated to Malaysia Premier League 2.
Teams competing in 2000 season
12 teams competing in the third season of Malaysia Premier League 1. Perlis and Johor were promoted while Kedah was relegated to Malaysia Premier League 2.
Teams competing in 2001 season
12 teams competing in the fourth season of Malaysia Premier League 1. Malacca and Kelantan were promoted while Sabah and Brunei were relegated to Malaysia Premier League 2.
Teams competing in 2002 season
14 teams competing in the fifth season of Malaysia Premier League 1. Johor FC, Sabah and NS Chempaka were promoted while Johor was relegated to Malaysia Premier League 2.
Teams competing in 2003 season
13 teams competing in the six season of Malaysia Premier League 1 after NS Chempaka pulled out from the league. Kedah and TMFC were promoted while Kuala Lumpur and Negeri Sembilan were relegated to Malaysia Premier League 2.
Champions
Below is the list of champions of Malaysia Premier League from 1998 until 2003.