In light of the acid attack against national footballer Faisal Halim, billboards across the Klang Valley have been erected since Thursday with phrases such as “Stand With Faisal Halim and Stop The Violence” in solidarity with the 25-year-old athlete.
Speaking to Malaysiakini, Selangor Football Club chief executive officer Johan Kamal Hamidon said the billboards were a collective effort by the club’s partners across the state.
“Selangor FC partners with local councils and also Menteri Besar Selangor Incorporated (MBI), Selangor State Development Corporation (PKNS), and Skyblue Media, who have digital assets across Selangor,” he told Malaysiakini.
He also said that neither Selangor FC nor the state government funded the billboards and stressed that it was a show of solidarity towards Faisal and a campaign against violence within the sport.
Apart from local support, Faisal also received a hearty solidarity wish from his fellow footballers at Manchester United - Red Devils stars Alejandro Garnacho and Andre Onana wished Faisal a speedy recovery.
In a video published by Stadium Astro, both English Premier League stars acknowledged that Faisal is facing a tough time and hoped that everything will go well for him.
“We’ve heard what happened. We feel for you (and) we are with you.
“We want to wish you all the best. Keep fighting, we are with you brother,” Onana said.
Police reportedly apprehended two suspects in connection with the attack in a mall in Petaling Jaya.
Meanwhile, Selangor FC board member Shahril Mokhtar told Bernama that Faisal can now walk within his hospital room - after undergoing a third round of surgery on Thursday - and is eager to return home.
Faisal gained international recognition when his remarkable goal against South Korea during the Asian Cup in January was voted Goal of the Tournament.
The attack on Faisal comes amidst a concerning spate of violence against professional footballers within a single week.
Akhyar Rashid, a winger for Terengganu FC, was attacked by two robbers upon returning home from training while Safiq Rahim, a former national team captain and player for Johor Darul Ta'zim (JDT), had the rear windscreen of his car shattered.
Following the incidents, Inspector-General of Police Razarudin Husain urged footballers who fear for their safety to file police reports promptly.
The Football Association of Malaysia also suggested that players consider hiring bodyguards to enhance their security. - Mkini
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