It’s all above board
Kafa: Annuar’s Mara suspension nothing to do with sponsorship
PETALING JAYA: Tan Sri Annuar Musa’s suspension as Mara chairman has nothing to do with the sponsorship of the Kelantan football team, says Kelantan Football Association (Kafa) secretary-general Datuk Ismail Mohd Noor.
“His (Annuar) suspension does not affect the sponsorship of the Kelantan team. Kafa welcomes any decision to investigate this matter,” said Ismail in a statement yesterday.
Annuar was suspended as Mara chairman with immediate effect following allegations that the former Kafa president had used Mara funds to sponsor the football team.
The decision to suspend Annuar was made at a Mara board meeting chaired by board member Dr Yusof Yacob yesterday.
Ismail said the sponsorship of the Kelantan team had always been transparent and done in a professional manner “based on a commercial co-operation ... and one that does not involve the Kafa president”.
“Before this, Master Skill – a private college – were the sponsors of the team and there were no issues. Previously, OUM (Open University Malaysia) wanted to sponsor us, but Kafa rejected their offer due to our tie-up with Master Skill. The Kafa sponsorship is cheaper compared to others,” said Ismail.
This season, Kelantan were on the verge of pulling out from the 12-team Super League due to insufficient funds. But they were given a lifeline when RedONE and Al Hamra Group decided to sponsor them.
Annuar is the chairman of RedONE and president of the Al Hamra Group.
Ismail has called on Kelantan fans to support the team and Annuar, who came to their rescue this season.
He said that news of Annuar’s suspension would not dampen the spirit of the Red Warriors ahead of their clash against Super League champions Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT) at the Sultan Mohd IV Stadium in Kota Baru on Saturday.
Annuar, a former Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) deputy president, has been nominated for the president’s post in the coming elections in March.
The others nominated are Youth and Sports Minister Khairy Jamaluddin, Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT) owner Tunku Mahkota of Johor (TMJ) Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim and FAM Integrity Committee chairman Tan Sri Aseh Che Mat.