Tunku Mahkota Johor is new FAM boss

Prince set to be association’s sixth president after Annuar pulls out of race

PETALING JAYA: Tunku Mahkota Johor Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim is the sixth president of the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM).

The 32-year-old Tunku Ismail (pic) won the hot seat unopposed after Ketereh MP Tan Sri Annuar Musa’s surprise announcement in Parliament yesterday that he was pulling out of the two-horse race.

The 51st FAM Congress will be held at the Petaling Jaya Hilton tomorrow to elect the new office bearers for the 2017-2021 term.

Two other candidates – Youth and Sports Minister Khairy Jamaluddin and FAM Integrity Committee chairman Tan Sri Aseh Che Mat – had withdrawn earlier.

Annuar, who is Umno information chief, was formerly FAM deputy president.

“After careful consideration, I have decided to pull out of the contest,” Annuar told reporters at a press conference at the media centre in Parliament yesterday.

He said he had texted Tunku Ismail of his decision five minutes before making the announcement.

The FAM has seen only five presi- dents in 59 years.

They are Tunku Abdul Rahman (19581974), Tun Abdul Razak (1975-76), Tan Sri Hamzah Abu Samah (1976-1983) and the long-serving Sultan Ahmad Shah who held the post for 30 years, from 1984 to 2014.

Tengku Mahkota Pahang, Tengku Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah, took over from his father but announced his decision to step down in November 2015 following Malaysia’s embarrassing 10-0 loss to the United Arab Emirates in a World Cup qualifying match.

At the last FAM Congress in 2014, Tengku Abdullah won 27 out of the 39 votes to beat Tunku Ismail in a two-way contest.

In another development, Majlis Amanah Rakyat’s (Mara) internal auditing committee has been told to speed up its investigation into Annuar’s alleged abuse of power in relation to the sponsorship for the Kelantan Football Association team.

Rural and Regional Development Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob said this is because although Annuar has been suspended as Mara chairman, he was still enjoying the salary and perks until the investigation is completed.

“I have reminded the committee to speed up the investigation and resolve the matter as soon as possible. I do not expect the investigations to be further delayed,” Ismail Sabri told reporters in Kuala Lumpur yesterday.

Annuar was suspended on Jan 31 over the alleged coercion of Universiti Kuala Lumpur and Pelaburan Mara Berhad to sponsor the Kelantan team to the tune of RM700,000.