Malaysian football hit a new low when the national team were trounced 10-0 by United Arab Emirates in an AFC World Cup qualifier on Thursday night.
The Malaysians have failed to win a game in 2015 and have conceded 16 goals in their last two matches, scoring none. They are bottom of Group A, below Timor-Leste on goal difference.
Here are five thoughts on what needs to be done to rescue the wounded Harimau Malaya.
1. Thank you Dollah and goodbye
Dollah Salleh did a fantastic job to guide Malaysia to the final of last year's AFF Suzuki Cup, considering the players at his disposal. The victories over Singapore away, in their last group game, and the semifinal, second leg triumph in Vietnam will forever live in the memory.
But the former national striker has proven to be out of his depth when it comes to facing up to strong West Asian sides, suffering 6-0 losses to Oman and Palestine in recent months before this week's debacle in Abu Dhabi.
Ahead of the UAE game, he tried his best to change the formation -- going for a five-man midfield -- but it did little to improve his side's defensive frailties.
After Malaysia conceded their first five goals in a horrific 11-minute spell in the first half, he seemed powerless to shut up shop against the rampant trio of Omar Abdulrahman, Ahmed Khalil and Ali Mabkhout.
Of course, Dollah had the issue of integrating late arriving Johor Darul Ta'zim (JDT) and Pahang players after the quarterfinals of the AFC Cup, but most national coaches around Asia dealt with similar problems.
Dollah must step down after the Saudi Arabia game.
2. Appoint a shrewd, foreign coach
It is time for Malaysia to bring in a foreigner again to coach the national team.
In the short-term, Dollah should resign and a caretaker -- ex-national boss B. Sathianathan is a good option -- could take over for the rest of Malaysia's World Cup qualifying campaign.
Dato K. Rajagobal did a superb job a few years ago to put the pride back into the national shirt after the debacle of the 2007 Asian Cup on home soil.
But, now, the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) must start the process of appointing a non-Malaysian head coach to bring fresh ideas without any bias, perceived or otherwise.
And they should forget about regional 'rock star' names like Eriksson, Troussier and Lippi. They would be too expensive, with no guarantees of adapting to the challenges of Malaysian life.
The best candidate could be former New Zealand head coach Ricki Herbert. With minimal resources, he guided New Zealand to the 2010 World Cup, defeating Bahrain in a playoff qualifier. He also coached the All Whites through an unbeaten campaign in South Africa -- they had three draws -- including 1-1 against defending champions, Italy.
Herbert was recently in charge of Papua New Guinea and took his U23 side on a Malaysian tour earlier this year.
Other locally-based candidates include Bojan Hodak (ex-Johor Darul Ta'zim and Kelantan), Mehmet Durakovic (Selangor), Alistair Edwards (current Real Mulia technical director), and David Mitchell (ex-Kedah and Perth Glory).
3. Reform the FAM
The governing body of football in Malaysia must take a lot of the blame for the pitiful state that the game finds itself in.
The lack of investment at grassroots and development level for so many years is being reflected with results at the top. Sadly, the FAM remains riddled with self-interest and inefficiency.
Tenguku Abdullah, who was appointed FAM president last year, is one of his country's most capable sports administrators and was elected to the FIFA Executive Committee in April. But he must act swiftly and decisively to put things right in Malaysian football.
There must also be a zero tolerance policy when it comes to any kind of cronyism or corruption.
We keep hearing how Malaysia used to regularly beat the likes of South Korea and Australia in the 1980s and 1990s.
Indeed, 23 years ago last month, a Socceroo side containing the likes of Alistair Edwards, Mehmet Durakovic and former AC Milan goalkeeper Zeljko Kalac lost 1-0 to Malaysia in the Presidents Cup tournament in Indonesia.
The rest of the region has gone forwards while Malaysian football has dramatically regressed.
4. Stop the national team playing EPL sides
There is nothing better than seeing top English Premier League stars strutting their stuff in Southeast Asia during pre-season tours. The fans love the games and they create plenty of interest in packed stadiums.
However, these EPL clubs should not be playing the national team or even a Malaysia XI, with a sprinkling of talented foreigners from the Malaysia Super League (MSL).
Instead, they could be facing up to the best MSL club sides, like Selangor, Pahang or Johor Darul Ta'zim (JDT).
People would still come and watch and we'd see the best Malaysian players -- and most exciting imports -- pitting their skills against the superstars they usually watch on television.
Australian soccer abandoned the idea of the national teams playing club sides more than a decade and a half ago and never looked back.
JDT's friendly in July against 2013 Champions League finalists Borussia Dortmund could be the template followed by Malaysian administrators while engaging European club sides.
Maintain the value of the national shirt by not taking part in these exhibition matches that can negatively impact preparations for more serious international games -- or disrupt the MSL itself.
5. Throw the kids into the national side
Of course, the senior players must take the majority of the blame for the recent poor performances.
To lose 6-0 in Kuala Lumpur to a Palestinian side, who have the challenges of dealing with serious security problems at home, is inexcusable.
To concede double figures to a handy yet not world-beating UAE side -- remember, they are not Germany or Brazil -- is even more embarrassing.
So, why not completely change the team and blood some youngsters with an eye on building a strong squad for the 2016 AFF Suzuki Cup? What's the worst thing that can happen?
OK, heavy defeats are possible, even likely, but the young Malaysians probably won't concede more than 10.
The current squad members have fallen dreadfully short of the required international standards. They weren't even able to overcome minnows Timor-Leste at home.
No doubt, the players have their own reasons and excuses. But their lack of fighting spirit suggests they should be moved on. It is time for a fresh start.