KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 5 — The Youth and Sports Ministry will order a probe into allegations of match fixing involving 18 President Cup players and a coach, Datuk Seri Ahmad Shabery Cheek said today.

According to Bernama Online, the minister labelled the scandal “disgraceful” and urged the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) and the police to take action against the perpetrators.

“I will direct the respective authorities to investigate and find out the reason (root cause) and source of the match-fixing scandal,” he was reported by the news agency as saying after opening the National Open Powerlifting Championships at the Titiwangsa Stadium here.

According to several news reports yesterday, 18 President Cup Malaysia (Under-20) football players were given two-to-five-year suspensions for their alleged involvement in match fixing for the M-League last season.

The 18 players include six each from Negri Sembilan, T-Team (Terengganu) and MP Muar. One team’s President Cup coach has also been banned for life.