The List of Malaysia Premier League seasons is a chronological compilation of each season of the Malaysia Premier League, the second tier of professional football in Malaysia. The league was established in 2004, succeeding the former Liga Premier, and has served as a promotion and relegation bridge between the Malaysia Super League (top tier) and the Malaysia M3 League (third tier).
General Structure of the Seasons
| Season | Champion | Runner‑up | Promoted to Super League | Relegated to M3 League |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | Muar | Selangor | Muar, Selangor | — |
| 2005 | MISC‑Port Dickson | Negeri Sembilan | MISC‑Port Dickson, Negeri Sembilan | — |
| 2006 | Kedah | PDRM | Kedah, PDRM | — |
| 2007 | Johor | Kuala Lumpur | Johor, Kuala Lumpur | — |
| 2008 (split into Group A & B) | See notes | See notes | Group winners | Bottom clubs |
| 2009 | Negeri Sembilan | ATM | Negeri Sembilan, ATM | — |
| 2010 | Felda United | Kedah | Felda United, Kedah | — |
| 2011 | Sarawak | Johor | Sarawak, Johor | — |
| 2012 | ATM | Kedah | ATM, Kedah | — |
| 2013 | Kedah | ATM | Kedah, ATM | — |
| 2014 | Pahang | Johor Darul Ta'zim II | Pahang, JDT II | — |
| 2015 | Kedah | Melaka United | Kedah, Melaka United | — |
| 2016 | Kuala Lumpur | Sime Darby | Kuala Lumpur, Sime Darby | — |
| 2017 | Johor Darul Ta'zim II | PDRM | JDT II, PDRM | — |
| 2018 | Felda United | Johor Darul Ta'zim II | Felda United, JDT II | — |
| 2019 | PKNP | PDRM | PKNP, PDRM | — |
| 2020 | Cancelled (COVID‑19 pandemic) | — | — | — |
| 2021 | Johor Darul Ta'zim II | Kelantan United | JDT II, Kelantan United | — |
| 2022 | Sri Pahang | Negeri Sembilan | Sri Pahang, Negeri Sembilan | — |
| 2023 | Kelantan United | Penang | Kelantan United, Penang | — |
Note: The 2008 season employed a group‑stage format (Group A and Group B) with the top teams from each group entering a playoff to determine promotion. Subsequent seasons reverted to a single‑table format.
Key Historical Points
- Inception (2004): The league began with 12 clubs and operated on a promotion‑relegation system with the Malaysia Super League.
- Format Changes: While most seasons have used a double‑round robin (home and away) format, the 2008 season featured a split‑group structure. No other major format overhauls have occurred.
- Promotion: Typically, the top two finishers earn promotion to the Super League. In seasons where the Super League expands or contracts, the number of promoted clubs may vary.
- Relegation: The bottom clubs (usually two) are relegated to the third‑tier Malaysia M3 League, though occasional league restructuring has altered relegation numbers.
- COVID‑19 Impact: The 2020 season was abandoned after the pandemic caused nationwide sporting suspensions; no champion was declared, and promotion/relegation were temporarily frozen.
- Recent Trends: Clubs with strong financial backing, such as Johor Darul Ta'zim II and Felda United, have frequently contested for the title, while historic state teams like Kedah, Negeri Sembilan, and Pahang have also secured promotion.
Sources and Reliability
The season‑by‑season data are compiled from the official records of the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM), historical league tables published by reputable sports outlets, and the league’s annual reports. Where official documentation is unavailable (e.g., lower‑division relegation details in early seasons), publicly accessible archives and news reports corroborate the information.
See Also
- Malaysia Super League – the top tier of Malaysian football.
- Malaysia M3 League – the third tier, feeding into the Premier League.
- Malaysia Cup – a knockout competition involving clubs from multiple divisions.
This summary reflects information available up to the end of the 2023 season.
