Ismail Sabri Wants To Catch 'Em All Too! Former Prime Minister Spotted At Card Mania 2025
He was seen proudly showing off his new trading card to event attendees.
Cover image via Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob made a surprise appearance at a trading card game (TCG) event on Sunday, 1 June, sparking curiosity over whether the former prime minister is a TCG enthusiast himself
Card Mania 2025 is a major TCG tournament and convention supported by the Tourism, Arts and Culture Ministry (MOTAC).
The three-day event, held from 30 May to 1 June at the MPAJ Convention Centre in Kuala Lumpur, attracted thousands of passionate collectors and new players nationwide.
Now in its third year, the convention has grown into a key platform for the regional TCG scene, attracting industry players and enthusiasts from countries such as Singapore, Australia, Thailand, Indonesia, and Japan.
Popular games and franchises featured at the event included Pokémon TCG, BoBoiBoy Galaxy Card, and a wide range of merchandise, alongside special appearances from well-known Japanese illustrators Kouji Saitou, Yuka Morii, and Kagemaru Himeno.
Image via null
SAYS spotted Ismail Sabri at the event around 4.50pm on Sunday.
But the question remains: Is he a player?
According to his Facebook post yesterday, 2 June, the Bera member of parliament (MP) revealed that it was his second time attending the event, where he had the opportunity to play a few card games with participating vendors and mingle with visitors.
He said the event featured over 50 local and international vendors, and card game enthusiasts had created a lively atmosphere.
And to answer the question above, he wrote: "And yes, I've started collecting cards as a new hobby too!"
Below are the videos, one captured by SAYS and the other shared by Ismail Sabri himself:
