The statement was affirmed by the chairman of the Johor State Committee for Youth and Sports, Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives, Hairi Md Shah, addressing an accusatory statement by an X account user named Syairul Syazwin, who claimed that the Sultan Ibrahim Stadium (SSI) does not belong to Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT).
He asserted that the statement made was superficial, unfounded and misleading and has the potential to create misunderstandings in public.
“Sultan Ibrahim Stadium (SSI) is the property of Johor Darul Ta’zim, which is under the patronage and consent of His Royal Highness the Regent of Johor as the owner of Johor Darul Ta’zim.”
“The construction of this stadium is part of HRH the Regent of Johor’s strategic vision in developing a world-class sports ecosystem in the State of Johor.”
“Johor Darul Ta’zim Football Club (JDT) acts as a professional entity that manages and develops the team, including technical aspects, player performance, talent development, and overall club management,” he said in a statement posted to his official Facebook page.
He also reiterated that to ensure stadium governance is implemented in a structured, professional, and international standard, HRH the Regent Sultan of Johor has given the trust and authority to the Johor Stadium Corporation (PSJ) to supervise the daily operations of the stadium, plan and implement regular maintenance, manage aspects of security, facilities, logistics, and event organisation, and ensure that the stadium is at the best level for domestic and international
“This management model clearly demonstrates a professional and effective separation of roles, where JDT focuses entirely on team performance and club success while PSJ is responsible for stadium management and maintenance,” he said, adding that the approach is consistent with the best practices of the world’s elite clubs and has contributed to JDT’s continued success at the national and international levels.
“In this regard, I emphasise that the statements made by the individual in question are untrue, unfounded and speculative, and should be stopped so as not to mislead the people of Johor.”
“I call on all parties, especially writers and social media influencers, to be more responsible, check the facts, and not make random statements that could tarnish the reputation of the state sports institution and the Johor State leadership,” he said in the statement, adding that the state government remains committed to ensuring that the Sultan Ibrahim Stadium continues to be managed professionally, with integrity, and to be the pride of the people of Johor.
PSJ has endorsed Hairi’s statement on its official social media page, stating that it is accurate, factual, and clear in determining the Sultan Ibrahim Stadium’s true ownership status.
“This clarification is important to avoid confusion and to show that sports governance in Johor is carried out professionally and is structured.”
The division of responsibilities between JDT and PSJ is consistent with global best practices and contributes to JDT’s ongoing success.
“PSJ is dedicated to ensuring that the Sultan Ibrahim Stadium’s operations, maintenance, and facilities are at the highest level as the body entrusted with managing the stadium,” the statement ends.