DOHA: FAM president Datuk Hamidin Amin is not used to hearing this - his counterparts telling him Malaysian football is getting stronger.
In Doha, where the Asian Cup is being held, some rivals are seeing Malaysia in a different light, and no longer as cannon fodder.
Hamidin said Asian Football Confederation senior officials had also said good things about the national team.
"I also met with Philippe Troussier (Vietnam coach) and other FA presidents. They are keen to watch us in action at the Asian Cup especially after how we played Kyrgyzstan and India," said Hamidin.
World No. 130 Malaysia stunned World No. 97 Kyrgyzstan 4-3 at home in a World Cup qualifier (last November) and defeated India 4-2 in the Merdeka Tournament (last October).
Even the South Korean media, whose team will meet Malaysia on Jan 25, is paying much attention to Hamidin's side in Doha.
"It's as if Malaysia are a rising power. We need to see this as a challenge for us to stay there and compete against (higher ranked) teams.
"I don't see it (as improvement) but maybe outsiders do, but, I don't. If outsiders have seen it then we need to be consistent.
"We must be reminded that we are playing against those who are higher ranked than us but we are prepared.
"With the players line-up and coaching staff that we have, we can do something at the Asian Cup.
"In the last couple of months we have managed to prove that we can challenge higher ranked teams like China, Syria, Kyrgyzstan and India. But we need to be consistent," said Hamidin.
Harimau Malaya's last friendly match in Doha, against world No. 91 Syria on Jan 8, ended in a 2-2 draw,
Malaysia, making a return to the Asian Cup on merit after 43 years, will play No. 87 Jordan tomorrow, No. 86 Bahrain on Jan 20 and No. 23 South Korea on Jan 25 in Group E.
