They defended the Charity Shield and collected their first three points in the Super League championships.
JDT’s import player from Argentina, Gonzalo Cabrera emerged as the hero for the Southern Tigers after scoring the solitary goal in the 40th minute.
Kedah also collected three points after defeating PKNP FC 2-0 at the Manjung Municipal Council Stadium in Perak. Their goals were netted by their Singaporean import Muhammad Shakir Hamzah (66th minute) and Argentinian Jonathan Jesus Bauman (86th minute).
Melaka also gained three points after a 2-1 win over debutant Petaling Jaya City FC (PJ City FC) at the Hang Jebat Stadium, Melaka.
Melaka took a 2-0 lead after their Kosovan player Liridon Krasniqi scored an open goal in the 36th before Brazilian Anselmo Arruda da Silva netted another in the 44th minute.
R Barathkumar managed to reduce the deficit for the visitors in the 58th minute.
In the Premier League, Selangor United sprang a surprise by defeating Kelantan 1-0 in the opening-day match at the Selayang Municipal Council Stadium, thanks to a great move by their player from Uzbekistan, Nikita Olegovich Pavlenko, in the 23rd minute.
Kelantan were demoted to the Premier League this season after failing to be in the top-10 of the Super League last year.
Negeri Sembilan also collected three points by beating Sarawak 2-1 at Tunku Abdul Rahman Stadium in Paroi.
The Rusa Squad’s goals were contributed by Muhammad Ferris Danial Mat Nasir (9th minute) and Jose Almir Barros Neto (51st minute). Sarawak’s goal was netted by Pedro Henrique Dias de Amorim (55th minute).
Penang failed to take advantage of playing on home turf, losing 2-3 to Terengganu FC II (TFC II).
The Panthers’ two goals were scored by Sebastian Maurice Thuriere (35th minute) and Julian Bottaro (70th minute). Mohammad Ramzi Sufian, Bruno Suzuki and Serhii Andrieiev scored for the TFC II in the 23rd, 46th and 79th minutes, respectively.
Sabah suffered the same fate after losing 1-2 to Johor Darul Ta’zim II (JDT II) at the Likas Stadium in Kota Kinabalu.
Serbian Luka Milunovic opened the scoring for Sabah in the 13th minute before JDT II caught up in the second half by scoring two goals through Mohammed Ghaddar (62nd minute) and Md Rozaimi Abd Rahman (83rd minute).