Liga Perdana (1994–1997)

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 trophy 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.

In early days, the Malaysian football league system consisted of an amateur league before the changes in 1989, when the Liga Semi-Pro was introduced which operated from 1989 to 1993.[1]

Initially the only teams allowed to participate in the 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).

In its inaugural season 16 teams competing in the league. The teams were based from all states in Malaysia including Kuala Lumpur and addition of two foreign teams, Singapore and Brunei.

Between 1994 and 1997, there was no second level league as the top two leagues were combined. 1994 was when Malaysian football league turned professional. The Liga Semi-Pro essentially replaced by the Liga Perdana, the new professional national league which was added, and a second cup competition, Piala FA, joined the existing Malaysia Cup.

The newly formed professional football league was almost in peril when a bribing and corruption scandal was discovered between 1994 and 1995. 21 players and coaches was sacked, 58 players were suspended and 126 players were questioned over corruption by Malaysian authorities.[3][4]

FAM did created another amateur league in 1992 for local clubs in Malaysia to compete, which is called the National League (Liga Nasional in Malay)[5] The league was managed by FAM outside entity, Super Club Sdn. Bhd. Unfortunately, the league only ran for one season before it folded. Some of the clubs were then evolved and joined the main league where in 1997, promotion from Malaysia FAM Cup to the professional M-League was introduced for the first time. Johor FC and NS Chempaka FC were the first two sides to be promoted that year.

Liga Perdana was replaced by two divisions league in 1998 consist of Liga Perdana 1 and Liga Perdana 2 (Liga Perdana 1 and Liga Perdana 2 in Malay).[6][7] During 1998, Liga Perdana 1 consist of 12 teams while Liga Perdana 2 had 8 teams.[6] 10 teams that previously qualified for Malaysia Cup which played in 1997 Liga Perdana were automatically qualified to Liga Perdana 1. The other two spots were filled by a playoff round of the 5 lowest teams in the 1997 Liga Perdana and the Malaysian Olympic football team. The lowest four teams from the playoff round were then put into Liga Perdana 2 alongside Police, Malaysia Military, Negeri Sembilan Chempaka F.C and PKN Johor. At this time the league still consisted of semi-pro team where each team was allowed to register 25 players where 12 players must be a professional for Liga Perdana 1 and a minimum of six professional players in Liga Perdana 2.[6]

16 teams competing in the first season of Liga Perdana.[8]

15 teams competing in the second season of Liga Perdana after Singapore pull from the league.[9]

15 teams competing in the third season of Liga Perdana.[10]

15 teams competing in the last season of Liga Perdana before it was succeeded by Liga Perdana 1.[11]