Head coach Ong Kim Swee admits that it has been difficult to turn the page after the international retirements of four Johor Darul Ta'zim (JDT) players as a new-look Malaysia prepare for next week's friendly against Indonesia.
The Malaysians will face the Merah Putih in Solo on Sept. 6 in a warm up for November's Suzuki Cup.
Ong named a 24-man squad last Thursday, and, for the first time, had to leave out ex-national captain Safiq Rahim, Aidil Zafuan, S. Kunanlan and Amirulhadi Zainal, who were all regular starters.
"Definitely, it's not easy," Ong told ESPN FC.
"But at the same time we have to respect their decisions. After their retirements, I had my coaches around the stadiums to look for replacements.
"I have 45 players on my list, and now we've finalised those 24 players."
The departure of the JDT quartet means that more than a third of Malaysia's starting side has left overnight.
But, with the players assembling at FAM headquarters at Kelana Jaya on Monday, Ong said places were up for grabs ahead of Malaysia's Suzuki Cup group stage in Myanmar.
"I hope those players who have been called up will grab this opportunity to prove themselves before the Suzuki Cup," he said.
Among the new faces is Selangor midfielder S. Veenod. The 28-year-old has been playing in the Malaysia Super League since 2008 without being previously selected.
"He has been playing very well, regularly with Selangor," Ong said. "I can see definitely that he can help us in the middle. His work rate is very good and we need someone like Junior Eldstal, who is injured."
Malaysia's opponents, Indonesia, will play in Group A in the Suzuki Cup against Singapore, Thailand and Philippines.
Harimau Malaysia beat Indonesia 4-2 on aggregate in the final of the 2010 Suzuki Cup, having lost 5-1 in the group stage at the Gelora Bung Karno Stadium in Jakarta.
Malaysia squad (to face Indonesia on Sept. 6):
Fadhli Shas, Amri Yahyah, Azrif Nasrulhaq, Khairul Azhan Khalid, Hazwan Bakri, S. Veenod, Adam Nor Azlin, Khairul Fahmi Che Mat, Brendan Gan, Wan Zack Haikal, Amer Saidin, Irfan Fazail, Zaquan Adha, Shahrul Saad, Nazirul Naim, Hafizul Hakim, Abdul Latiff Suhaimi, Fakrul Aiman, Baddrol Bakhtiar, Fakri Saarani, Ronny Harun, Khair Jones, Matthew Davies, Safawi Rasid