Pahang confirmed their top flight status after they were awarded three points by the FA of Malaysia (FAM), who penalised Kedah for fielding an ineligible player against them in the Malaysia Super League (MSL) in August.
As a result, the Elephants were handed a 3-0 win and are now four points clear off Penang and Terengganu, who occupy the bottom two rungs heading into the final round MSL fixtures on Saturday.
Even if Pahang lose their last game away to T-Team, they will avoid relegation with 23 points.
Kedah will keep their position in third, despite being docked three points, as they hold a nine-point lead over fourth place Kelantan.
The Canaries were penalised after fielding Rizal Ghazali in the 1-0 victory at Darul Aman Stadium on Aug. 3.
Upon investigation, the national body discovered the midfielder was supposed to serve a suspension after accumulating three yellow cards. They fined the 2016 Malaysia Cup finalists RM5,000, with a stern warning for breaching the FAM's disciplinary code.
we never gave up on ourselves when everyone else did, next year is our year #PFC #superleague2017
A photo posted by Matt Davies (@matttdavies) on
Pahang captain Matthew Davies, the Malaysia international full-back, was delighted upon hearing of the verdict.
"We never gave up on ourselves when everyone else did, next year is our year," the defender said on Instagram page.
The verdict will come as a kind of redemption for the league strugglers, who were deducted six points in 2015 for failing to properly compensate their former striker Mohamed Borji after terminating his contract two years earlier.
As a result, Pahang lost second spot in the league and their AFC Cup berth. They were replaced by Selangor in the continental competition this year.
FAM's result reversal has, however, put Sarawak and PDRM FA's top flight status in serious jeopardy.
Both sides are level on 21 points, and play each other in a must-win final game at Sarawak Stadium.
Should either side lose, they were will replaced in the top flight for 2017 by the victors of Penang-Terengganu, who face off at City Stadium on Saturday.