When Syamer was last in the senior national team, he was a pivotal figure in Malaysia's run to the final of the 2018 AFF Suzuki Cup. He was an ever-present member of the starting line-up, chosen by Tan Cheng Hoe to being seven out of eight of the matches that Malaysia played in the tournament.
Syamer's grew from match to match in the tournament and was arguably one of the best players of the tournament and perhaps even the strongest performer of all the central midfielders in the tournament. He only narrowly missed out of being part of the official Best XI but it was a tournament which he enhanced his reputation.