SINGAPORE – Yasir Hanapi is set to play for Malaysian Premier League side PDRM FA after sealing a switch from current team Tampines Rovers.

TODAY understands that the 27-year-old Singapore international midfielder has passed his medical and put pen to paper on a permanent deal to play for the Cops until the end of the season.

He will link up with the Malaysian second-tier side after the current international break, which, for the Lions, will end after their friendly against Argentina next Tuesday (June 13).

Yasir, who has one goal in 17 caps, is expected to start for the Lions this Saturday in their AFC Asian Cup qualifier against Taiwan. He declined to comment when approached on Thursday night before national team training.

But Tampines chairman Krishna Ramachandra confirmed the transfer and revealed that there was no transfer fee involved.

“We allow all our promising and developing national players to go any time in the interest of their careers,” he told TODAY.

“(Singapore) coach Sundram (V. Sundramoorthy) and (Tampines) coach Juergen Raab have said that the move will be very positive for him and the national team, so we didn’t stop it or make transfer fee demands, which typically kills deals.

“He has been one of our standout players this season but I guess if we believe in such a philosophy, we must think of the greater national cause even when it impacts us at a team level.”

Yasir has been in good form for the Stags this season, scoring five goals in all competitions to equal last season’s haul and is just one goal away from matching his best-ever campaign tally of six from 2014.

A first-team regular for Tampines, whom he joined in 2016, Yasir has made 15 starts and one substitute appearance in the S.League club’s 17 matches so far.

The versatile midfielder, who is adept in both attacking and defensive roles, and also has the capability to play on the flanks, started his career with Geylang United (now Geylang International) in 2008.

He then played for the LionsXII in 2012, returned to Geylang in 2013 and then moved to Home United from 2014 to 2015.

Yasir will join national team-mate Safuwan Baharudin at PDRM, who were relegated from the top flight last season.

They currently sit seventh out of 12 teams at the mid-season stage and are nine points behind leaders Negeri Sembilan. ADDITIONAL REPORTING BY NOAH TAN