Tunku Sultan Ismail says he has decided to put himself at the forefront of the Football Association of Malaysia presidential elections because he has had enough of seeing the nation's football scene stuck in the doldrums.
Malaysia are ranked 162nd in the world, failed to get out of the group stage of the 2016 AFF Suzuki Cup, and have suffered one 10-0 and three 6-0 thrashings at the hands of Asian opponents in the last two years. They also drew at home against regional minnows Macau and Timor-Leste.
"I did not decide to do it because I wanted to, but rather, it's the fear of what will happen should this football institution fall into the wrong hands," said the Crown Prince, also known as TMJ, via the Southern Tigers Facebook page.
"If that happens, it will be back to square one. This is our chance to change it forever and bring it to the likes of Japan, Thailand, and all the other successful countries."
TMJ will contest the president hot seat against former Kelantan president Tan Sri Annuar Musa at the FAM elections on March 25.
The Johor royal family member, who was given the blessings of his father Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar to lead Malaysian football, extended an invitation for fans to meet him when he travels north to the country's capital city, Kuala Lumpur.
"I will be coming to KL next week to represent my father at the Rulers Conference. I would like to take the opportunity to invite fans across the nation to see me and ask me anything they want," he said.
"They can take this opportunity to voice out their current disappointments or rather anything they want and I will give them my point of view and solutions."
TMJ is hotly tipped to become's FAM's new leader, especially after 14 of the current affiliates went to Johor to meet Sultan Ibrahim on Feb. 6 to get the green light for his son to compete.
Sports Minister Khairy Jamaluddin and former Home Ministry Secretary General Tan Sri Aseh Che Mat were the other candidates who abandoned their campaigns on Feb. 13 after TMJ had confirmed his participation.
FAM are scheduled to have their executive committee meeting on Feb. 20 when they will release more details about the upcoming elections.