MACC quizzes suspended Mara chief Annuar

Suspended Majlis Amanah Rakyat (Mara) chairperson Annuar Musa was questioned for four hours at the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) headquarters in Putrajaya this morning over allegations of abuse of power and misappropriation of funds.

According to The Star Online, the Umno information chief was all smiles when he met reporters outside the building at about 1pm.

Annuar said he went to the MACC office because he felt duty-bound to provide assistance to the probe, and had done so to the best of his abilities.

“Whatever they had to ask, I answered them. So it is now up to them if they find a case or not," he was quoted as saying.

He said the questions concerned the Kelantan Football Association (Kafa) spending, and did not rule out the possibility of being called for questioning again.

"I am ready any time, if they need to question me further," he said.

With regard to his position in Umno, Annuar said there was no rush to meet Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak over the matter.

"This has got nothing to do with the PM or the party. This is my case with the MACC, so let me manage this myself," he added.

Annuar also pointed out that the MACC investigation would not frustrate his bid to vie for the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) presidency.

"There are several criteria that disqualify you from contesting the FAM presidency, including bankruptcy. Being investigated by MACC, however, is not one of them," he said.

On Jan 31, a Mara emergency board meeting decided to suspend Annuar, who was abroad on Mara matters at the time, with immediate effect as chairperson as well as head of Pelaburan Mara Bhd.

The suspension was to facilitate investigations into allegations that Mara Investment and Universiti Kuala Lumpur (UniKL) sponsored the Kelantan football team, which Annuar is linked to.

On Jan 12, Johor Crown Prince Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim accused Annuar of using his positions in Mara and UniKL to secure sponsorships for the Kelantan football team.

Tunku Ismail also revealed several documents detailing the said transactions and questioned if the sponsorship was the reason why UniKL was forced to reduce scholarships for its students by RM700 million last year.

Annuar, who is also former Kelantan Football Association (Kafa) president, denied the allegations-Mkini