Tan Sri Annuar Musa was suspended from his post as MARA chairman and Mara Investments chairman. ― Picture by Yusof Mat Isa

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 31— Ketereh MP Tan Sri Annuar Musa has been suspended from his post as Majlis Amanah Rakyat (MARA) chairman effectively immediately, according to a media report.

Astro Awani reported that the suspension was decided after a special meeting at agency’s headquarters chaired by MARA council member Datuk Dr Yusof Yacob, who will also take over as interim chairman.

Annuar was also suspended as Mara Investments (PMB) chairman.

The suspension comes weeks after Johor Crown Prince Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim accused Annuar of using his position as MARA chairman to force PMB and Universiti Kuala Lumpur (UniKL) to sponsor the Kelantan football team.

Annuar was president of the Kelantan Football Association until November last year, but remains its adviser.

The report quoted Yusof as saying that Annuar has been informed of the suspensions.

Yusof said that the suspension was temporary pending MARA’s investigation into the allegations of power abuse over the RM700,000 in aborted sponsorships for the football team known as the Kelantan Red Warriors.

“In the meeting it was unanimously agreed that an internal audit must made in MARA to investigate issues that have gone viral,” he reportedly said.

He said Annuar was also suspended from PMB because he is an “interested party” in the ongoing investigation.

Yusuf added that no timeline was set for the inquiry, but said the probe should be expedited due to public interest.

Annuar maintained that MARA did not sponsor the Kelantan team, and insisted that UniKL was a private firm that made its own decisions.

UniKL is wholly owned by MARA while PMB is the agency’s investment arm.

Despite Annuar’s denial, Rural and Regional Development Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob ordered both MARA units to halt the sponsorships.

Ismail’s ministry oversees the agency that is responsible for encouraging the development of Malay/Bumiputera industry.