It’s happened. The Pahang State Government has finally opened the state coffers, peered past the cobwebs, and decided that football is, in fact, worth a few million ringgit. They’ve recently approved a healthy chunk of change for a domestic league in the 2026 Budget. Huzzah! Crack open the non-alcoholic bubbly! We’ve saved the beautiful game in the land of Patin and overpriced highland strawberries.

But before we start erecting statues of politicians in the middle of Darul Makmur Stadium, I have a nagging suspicion—a feeling in my waters—that this “inclusive” plan might be about as inclusive as a Victorian gentleman’s club.

You see, I recently ruffled a few feathers by suggesting that it isn’t “far-right” or “extremist” to think women should actually be allowed to kick a ball without being treated like they’re committing a high-level felony. I know, I’m a radical. Next, I’ll be suggesting we stop putting sugar in sambal.

The Pahang budget has allocated a cool RM21.04 million for sports development. That is a lot of money. You could buy a small fleet of Ferraris for that, or perhaps three very average strikers for the Super League. But as I trawled through the official announcements, looking for the word “women,” I found… well, let’s just say the silence was deafening. It was like looking for a vegetarian option at a Texas BBQ.

Now, let’s talk politics—the kind they don’t teach you in school but play out on the pitch. Pahang often prides itself on being a “progressive Islamic state.” It’s the brand. It’s the “Pahang 1st” mantra. We want to show the world—and more importantly, the Federal government—that you can be devoutly Islamic without being stuck in the Dark Ages.

Look at our neighbours to the north. In Terengganu, they’ve spent the last few years banning female gymnasts and divers because their outfits didn’t meet a certain “standard.” It’s a branding exercise in ultra-conservatism that basically says: “If you have ovaries, please stay in the kitchen or, at the very least, out of the stadium.”

If Pahang wants to maintain its position as the sophisticated, moderate alternative to that kind of “morality-first, sports-never” approach, then women’s football is the ultimate PR win. By funding a women’s league, Pahang isn’t just “playing sports”; it’s making a loud, clear statement: “We are Islamic, we are traditional, but we aren’t terrified of a woman in a pair of shin guards.” It separates the “Tok Gajah” brand from the regressive policies next door. If we miss this boat, we aren’t just losing a game; we’re losing the identity of being the progressive leader of the East Coast.

For the traditionalists still clutching their prayer beads in horror, let’s break down the “importance” of this:

• Economic Common Sense: Women represent half the population. That’s half the potential ticket sales and jersey buyers. Ignoring them is like opening a restaurant and refusing to serve anyone who isn’t wearing a tie.
• National Pride: Malaysia is currently ranked 89th in the world in women’s football. We are behind because we treat our female athletes like a Sunday hobby. You want the Jalur Gemilang on the world stage? Stop starving the women’s game of oxygen.
• Societal Health: Girls who play sports have higher self-esteem. By excluding them from the “domestic league” plans, we’re telling young girls in Kuantan that their ambitions aren’t worth the investment.

The state is busy patting itself on the back for hitting RM1.28 billion in revenue, yet when it comes to the domestic league funding, the blueprint looks suspiciously like a “Boys Only” treehouse. If women’s football isn’t explicitly in the budget, then it isn’t in the plan. Period.

To the powers that be in Kuantan: You’ve got the cash. You’ve got the “surplus.” You’ve even got the “Makmur Pahang” initiative. So, let’s see some of that prosperity trickle down to the sisters and daughters who actually want to play.

Unless, of course, the plan is to wait for the federal government to fix it. We saw the Ministry drop RM840,000 for the National Women’s League recently. In football terms, RM840k is what a benchwarmer spends on hair gel. It’s a start, but it’s hardly a revolution.

If Pahang wants to be a “sports powerhouse” and a beacon of progressive Islam, you can’t do it with half the population sitting on the sidelines.

So, I’m asking: Is there a Women’s League in this new budget, or have we “forgotten” them again? Because if the plan is just to fund the same old lads’ club while the women’s game remains an afterthought, then you aren’t leading the East Coast—you’re just following the same outdated playbook as everyone else.