Annuar Musa disavows Mara's deal with Kelantan FA

Suspended Mara chairperson Annuar Musa denied any involvement in Mara's decision to sponsor the Kelantan Football Association (Kelantan FA) in 2016.

The sponsorship was controversial due to conflict of interest concerns, as Annuar was also the Kelantan FA president at that time.

Annuar addressed journalists after testifying before the Mara audit committee, insisting that the sponsorship was a commercial decision in which he had no part.

"I was not involved in the decision, negotiation nor did I instruct for it .

"The decision was made at the admin level and was not referred to me," he told a press conference at the Mara headquarters.

Annuar was summoned before the Mara audit committee at 10.30 this morning to explain the sponsorship which was exposed by Johor crown prince Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim.

Tunku Ismail had on Jan 13 revealed documents that showed Pelaburan Mara as well as Mara-owned Universiti Kuala Lumpur (UniKL) had sponsored RM200,000 and RM500,000 respectively to Kelantan FA.

Annuar is also the pro-chancellor of UniKL.

Both Tunku Ismail and Annuar had vied for the presidency of the Football Association of Malaysia but the latter later withdrew, allowing the crown prince to win uncontested.

Welcomes Mara's internal audit

Annuar, who is also Umno information chief, insisted that UniKL's spending on Kelantan FA was not a case of diverting education funds.

"I never asked anyone in Mara to use education funds (for Kelantan FA).

"They used their marketing allocation, there is black and white, and I did not interfere in the negotiations with Kelantan FA," he said.

He insisted that Mara's investment in Kelantan FA was not a sponsorship but a "commercial package intended for marketing and advertising purposes".

Annuar said he was pleased with his hour-long testimony to the Mara audit committee.

"As Mara chairperson, I will not compromise on this matter and I welcome Mara's internal audit.

"But I ask that it not be done in a bias manner. If it is with good intentions, I will be the first to support it," he said.

The hearing was before the internal audit committee chairperson Abu Azam Md Yassin and four other Mara officials.

Annuar claimed the committee was satisfied with his explanation.

He said he remains suspended as Mara chairperson since Jan 31 pending a decision by the minister in charge.-Mkini