KUALA LUMPUR: For years, Harimau Malaya lamented that no top teams want to play them because of their "low" standard.

Now ironically, Malaysia withdrew from the Central Asian Football Association (CAFA) Nations Cup after accepting a first ever invitation.

And now, there is speculation that Malaysia may play Singapore instead during the September Fifa window.

Malaysia still want to play their neighbours from across the Causeway — again, again and again? Singapore as replacement for higher ranked teams like Tajikistan, Afghanistan and Iran, who are going to the 2026 World Cup?

Football legend Datuk Jamal Nasir Ismail finds this purported U-turn from Central Asia to Southeast Asia baffling.

"They don't want to play in a good tournament. What's the strategy? There must be something that has led to this," said Jamal.

It was reported that the national team will instead hold a training camp in Kuala Lumpur from Sept 1–9, while a friendly with Singapore was being considered.

Jamal said the national team could be trying to save costs as going to Singapore instead of Dushanbe (for the Nations Cup) is cheaper.

"Is it because of financial constraints? When going there (Nations Cup), you have to pay this and that, flights are expensive, but here (Singapore) is not that expensive.

"They should come out with a press conference to explain and not just keep quiet," he added.

Jamal also found it hard to accept the reasons for Malaysia's withdrawal — travel logistics, transit fatigue and the unavailability of overseas-based players.

"These are not good excuses, and if there are transits, then go earlier and you can recover. Not a plausible excuse.

"Even when they talk about overseas-based players who aren't available, do they think that only players like Imanol Machuca, Facundo Garces and Rodrigo Holgado are good and the rest aren't? I think netizens will think the same way, too," said Jamal.