M-League teams will have someone else going after them if they "misbehave" this season.
From this year, the Malaysian Football League (MFL) will handle club licensing, taking over from the FA of Malaysia (FAM).
And MFL chief executive officer Datuk Ab Ghani Hassan has urged the clubs to be responsible in their M-League obligations.
He said MFL do not want to hear problems like non-payment of salaries, contract issues or teams in financial trouble.
Ghani said he hopes the clubs and players are aware of their roles as stakeholders in making the league a success.
"Teams have taken initiatives but they also need to understand they have obligations and responsibilities... it's something they cannot run away from.
"MFL hope that for 2021, after privatisation, there won't be issues with salaries, the Inland Revenue Board and EPF.
"We don't want these issues to jeopardise their licences, which are now under MFL. And we will take stern action if there are cases," added Ghani.
On Wednesday, MFL announced that 11 Super and Premier League teams had applied to the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) for competitions licences while 18 teams applied for national licences for this year.
The clubs applying for AFC licences are Johor Darul Ta'zim, Melaka United, PJ City, Perak, Kedah Darul Aman, Selangor, Penang, Terengganu, UiTM FC, Kuala Lumpur United and Sarawak United.