KUALA LUMPUR (Jan 31): The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) has confirmed that it will investigate allegations of graft and abuse of power involving suspended Majlis Amanah Rakyat (Mara) chairman Tan Sri Annuar Musa.

In a statement released this evening, MACC said: “We would like to stress that our investigations are only focused on issues of graft and abuse of power in relation to his involvement in sponsoring the Kelantan football team.

“Investigations into mismanagement will be conducted by an internal audit team from Mara.”

Earlier today, it was reported that Annuar had been suspended from his chairman post in Mara and Pelaburan Mara Bhd (PMB) with immediate effect.

At a press conference at the Mara headquarters here this morning, Mara board member Datuk Dr Yusof Yacob said the decision was made following an emergency board meeting today. 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 he accepted the decision of the Mara council to suspend him as the chairman of the agency and its wholly-owned investment arm, PMB.

In the Facebook posting, Annuar said he will not make further statements on the matter until next week as he is currently in New Zealand on official Mara business.

Annuar said he received a call from Mara director-general Datuk Ibrahim Ahmad, informing him that a special meeting of the Mara council today had decided to suspend him with immediate effect.

"I was informed that the special meeting was chaired by (council member) Datuk Dr Yusof Yaacob and the outcome of the meeting was that they have decided to suspend my chairmanship of Mara and Pelaburan Mara effective immediately," wrote Annuar.

The former cabinet minister said he was not aware of what was discussed at the meeting.

Annuar said Mara had scheduled the meeting to be held on Feb 14, but Rural and Regional Development Minister Ismail Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob had allegedly given consent for the meeting to be brought forward to today.

"I had planned to raise and discuss related issues at the (Feb 14) meeting but the minister seems to have given the consent for the special meeting to be held earlier and without giving me any prior notice," Annuar said.

"As a public officer appointed by the minister, I am open to any directive and I will accept any decision. Integrity and trust are my principles," he added.

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 PMB.