Halim, also known as Mickey, was splashed with acid in a shopping mall outside the capital Kuala Lumpur. The national team star remains in a critical condition in hospital and will undergo a skin graft. Two suspects were arrested in connection with the attack with one remaining in police custody.

That incident came days after another Malaysian international, Akhyar Rashid, was injured in a robbery at his home in Terengganu. Most recently, former Malaysia captain Safiq Rahim - who plays for league champions Johor Darul Ta'zim (JDT) - was unhurt when his car's rear windscreen was smashed by two men on Wednesday.

In a statement issued on Wednesday night, last season's league runners-up Selangor announced they would not play JDT in the 2024 Charity Cup match citing "a series of criminal incidents and recent threats involving several players and team officials within just 72 hours".

Despite JDT asking Selangor to "reconsider their decision", Malaysian Football League CEO Stuart Ramalingam has conceded that the game will not go ahead. However, he told AFP that he expects this weekend's five opening league fixtures to be played as normal, saying, "There are no other clubs that have asked for postponement or indicated they don't want to play."

These attacks are the first reported against footballers since the Malaysia's professional league was established 30 years ago. Pahang and Malaysia defender Adam Nor Azlin condemned the assaults but hoped people would still attend matches. "We want to hear your loud roar. Show us that you love football and oppose violence," he urged.

The director of the police criminal investigation department, Mohamad Shuhaily Mohamad Zain, said no link had yet been found although all three attacks were carried out by two people who had followed the players.