'Upin & Ipin' break piggy bank to help Selangor FC pay fine

In solidarity with the Red Giants, two young brothers have broken their piggy bank, containing about RM300, to help Selangor FC pay the fine imposed by the Malaysian Football League (MFL).

Ng Chee Kean shared the generosity of his sons Ng Ho Wie, nine, and Ng Ho Race, eight recently.

The brothers are dubbed Upin and Ipin for their likeness to the beloved Malaysian animated characters.

“They know the issue between Selangor FC and the MFL. So they took their own initiative to donate (to Selangor FC) to help the club pay the fine imposed by MFL,” Chee Kean told Malaysiakini.

Selangor FC was fined RM100,000 and docked three points for skipping the Charity Shield match at the Sultan Ibrahim Stadium in Iskandar Puteri, Johor last month.

Following widespread backlash and a reprimand from Selangor ruler Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah, MFL reduced the fine amount to RM60,000 and cancelled the points docking.

In addition, the MFL later reduced the fine to RM60,000 and cancelled the three-point deduction.

The spectator ban for the 14th-week Super League match between Selangor FC and Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT) at the Petaling Jaya City Council Stadium was also lifted.

Inspiring other parents

Elaborating, Chee Kean said his sons were driven to donate their savings out of love for football, and Selangor FC.

The brothers have been involved in football for the last three years since they first joined the Zamri Hassan Soccer Star club in 2022. They then joined TSS Selangor in 2023, before joining the Selangor FC academy for young footballers.

According to Chee Kean, the source of the donated fund is the money he gives his sons after every training session, and whenever they score a goal during matches.

“To motivate them to strive harder, I would give them RM2 to RM3 each.

“I estimate that the piggy bank contained about RM300. I’m not sure about the exact amount as it contains ringgit notes, as well as coins,” the proud father said.

Chee Kean, who also posted about this on Facebook, said he was driven to share it to inspire other parents.

This is especially when the Chinese are seen as less interested in football, he added.

According to him, children will excel in any field that they undertake, if their parents are constantly motivating them.

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