JOHOR BARU: The football curtain raiser between Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT) and Kuala Lumpur kept a few politicians glued to the match late Saturday night.

       Among them included former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak, who is also Barisan Nasional advisory chairman, Federal Territories Minister Datuk Seri Dr Shahidan Kassim and Communications and Multimedia Minister Tan Sri Annuar Musa.

       Najib also received a JDT jersey with the number 11 and the words “Bossku” on its back from club owner Tunku Ismail Ibni Sultan Ibrahim, who is also the Tunku Mahkota Johor.

       Several Pakatan Harapan candidates were also at the match held at the state-of-the-art Sultan Ibrahim Stadium in Iskandar Puteri.

       Among them were Johor Pakatan chairman Aminolhuda Hassan, who is the candidate for Parit Ya’ani, state DAP chairman Liew Chin Tong, who is standing in Perling, Marina Ibrahim (Skudai), Liow Cai Tung (Johor Jaya), Dr Maszlee Malik (Layang-layang), Suhaizan Kaiat (Pulai Sebatang) and Mohd Khuzzan Abu Bakar (Semerah).

       Suhaizan, when contacted, said they received the invitations from the TMJ Office a day before the event.

       “Each party could send up to three representatives. It was just to watch the game. Nothing about politics.

       “We were housed in a separate place and did not mingle with others,” he said, adding that they congratulated Tunku Ismail once JDT won.

       Semarang Umno candidate Samsol Bari Jamali said he put up three big screens around his constituency to allow the people to watch the match live.

       “I have been doing this for years as we are proud whenever JDT plays, not just in Johor but anywhere in the country or overseas,” said Samsol, who is also state Umno secretary.

       He added that usually, the big screens were put in public places or halls and the people attending would have to follow the standard operating procedure.

       The match ended with JDT defeating Kuala Lumpur 3-0 in front of their home fans to lift the Charity Shield trophy.