Annuar Musa has been suspended as chairman of Mara and PMB

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KUALA LUMPUR (Jan 31): Tan Sri Annuar Musa has been suspended as chairman of Majlis Amanah Rakyat (Mara) and Pelaburan Mara Bhd (PMB) with immediate effect.

At a press conference at Mara headquarters here this morning, Mara board member Datuk Dr Yusof Yacob said the decision was made following an emergency board meeting today. “Tan Sri Annuar has been notified of the suspension,” said Yusof. The emergency board meeting was co-chaired by Yusof and Prof Emeritus Datuk Dr Abu Azam Md Yassin, NST Online reported.

NST Online added that Yusof has been nominated by the Mara board to fulfil the duties previously carried by Annuar in both Mara and PMB, in the interim.

Star Online reported that Annuar was asked to go on leave while an internal Mara audit is conducted into allegations on the sponsorship of Kelantan Football Association by two Mara subsidiaries.

Annuar, who is currently in New Zealand on Mara-related business, posted on Facebook today that the emergency board meeting this morning was fast-tracked with the consent of Rural and Regional Development Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob.

Annuar said the council was supposed to meet on Feb 14, and he had planned to discuss matters concerning his post then, Malaysiakini reported.

"However, it seems the minister had given consent for a special meeting to be held earlier, without my presence," Annuar said.

Annuar was recently caught in a controversy over football sponsorship.

Johor's crown prince Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim had made allegations that a certain "Tan Sri" had forced Mara and its subsidiaries to sponsor the Kelantan Red Warriors team.

On Jan 12, Tunku Ismail had posted on Facebook photos of documents purportedly showing a RM500,000 sponsorship agreement by Universiti Kuala Lumpur and a RM200,000 sponsorship by Pelaburan Mara.