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Malaysian Fans Ready To Weather Stormy AFF Cup Final In Indonesia

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 28 (Bernama) -- Contrary to reports and apprehension on safety aspects at the Gelora Bung Karno Stadium in Jakarta, venue of the AFF Suzuki Cup final between Malaysia and Indonesia tomorrow, some 300 die-hard Malaysian fans are ready to weather the storm.

The group of fans from Selangor, Kelantan and Johor, gathered by the Selangor Fan Club (SSFC) and Gerbang Tempur Penyokong Bola Sepak Malaysia (Ultras Malaya) headed to Jakarta today, knowing pretty well, what to expect from the hostile Indonesian crowd.

SSFC president Mohd Nasir Mohd Yunus said fans who had come from all over the country, were ready to face an eventualities in their mission to provide support for the country's national team.

"As a precautionary safety measure, we have already informed the Malaysian Embassy in Jakarta.

"Malaysia fans need not be afraid because even if there was any fracas, it will be only during the game in the stadium and will not spread elsewhere or outside the stadium. But as fans we must be careful," he told Bernama when contacted Tuesday.

There have been claims that Malaysian fans would not dare come to the Gelora Bung Karno Stadium to support the Malaysian team in action against Indonesia in the AFF Suzuki Cup final tomorrow, due to safety reasons.

A number of Indonesian papers had reported that Malaysian fans are not brave enough to be present at the stadium to support the national team for fear of their safety.

However, although there are no exact details of the number of tickets bought by Malaysian fans, it was reported that 5,000 tickets have been allocated for the second leg final.

Youth and Sports Minister Datuk Ahmad Shabery Cheek when met by Bernama in Jakarta said the number of fans in Indonesia would not be many as compared with the presence of Indonesian fans in Bukit Jalil for the first leg final.

On Sunday, 15,000 Indonesia fans were at the National Stadium in Bukit Jalil when Malaysia scored a convincing 3-0 win amidst claims that Malaysia had won unfairly.

Mohd Nasir said it was the wish of the travelling fans to come home with the AFF Suzuki Cup with K. Rajagobal's boys.

-- BERNAMA

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