By Muhammad Haziq Roshidi
AMPANG, May 17 — E-sports is no longer merely a hobby but has become a platform for young people to hone their talents and explore opportunities for a professional career.
A participant in the Ampang Jaya Municipal Council's (MPAJ) Mobile Legends: Bang Bang (MLBB) Cup 2025, Muhammad Amir Shah, said his deep interest in video games has driven him to pursue e-sports as a potential career path.
“InsyaAllah, if we keep participating in and winning tournaments like this, our names will become recognised.
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(from left to right) Ampang Jaya Municipal Council's Mobile Legends: Bang Bang Cup 2025 tournament participants Riyad Abdul Alim and Muhammad Amir Shah at Dewan Serbaguna MPAJ AU2 in Ampang on May 11, 2025. — Picture by AMIR IMRAN/MEDIA SELANGOR[/caption]
"Who knows, the Mobile Legends Professional League (MPL) might notice our potential,” he said at the tournament recently.
Another participant, Riyad Abdul Halim, also expressed his desire to turn gaming into a source of income, rather than treating it as mere entertainment.
“Instead of just playing casually with no returns, it is better to join competitions like this. Who knows, it could generate income too,” he said after completing his match.
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Ampang Jaya Municipal Council's Mobile Legends: Bang Bang Cup 2025 tournament participant Rafiq Hussain at Dewan Serbaguna MPAJ AU2 in Ampang on May 11, 2025. — Picture by AMIR IMRAN/MEDIA SELANGOR[/caption]
Meanwhile, fellow competitor Rafiq Husain considers the rapid growth of the esports industry in Malaysia as a clear sign that careers in this field are gaining traction, particularly following the international success of local teams.
“The opportunities are wide open now, especially after teams like the Selangor Red Giants (SRG) won a world championship last year in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. It proves that local talent can go far,” he said.
48 teams participated in the MLBB MPAJ Cup 2025, which took place at the MPAJ AU2 Multipurpose Hall on Sunday (May 11), reflecting strong support from the local youth community.
