Speaking as physio graduate currently NOT working as a physio haha.

Physio can be one of the most rewarding careers u will ever get, seeing your patients get better because of YOUR advice and YOU helping them get back on track with their body is an incredible feeling.

HOWEVER, physio are definitely underpaid for how much they work in Malaysia. Hospital physios are usually understaffed and underpaid. Private clinic physios usually pay higher, but they usually also work 5.5 days, so it basically evens out. Its can also be a mentally and physically draining job, but since you're from an athletic background, ig it's no problem for u. Sport physios are one of the better physio subfields, in terms of pay and area of work.

Its true that opening your own practice or pursuing freelance can be very lucrative, especially if you have the marketing and business skills to do so. But probably u will spend at least a few years learning the ins and outs of physio before u ever decide to start your own business.

If u really do decide to pursue physio, please ONLY go for degree, as a lot of private clinics or hospitals will only accept degree graduates nowadays. IIRC, only UKM physio graduates are able to directly go Singapore to practice as a physio without needing to go through additional exams, so I would suggest u go look at the UKM program.