Mara caves in on ‘own goal’ — no more football $$$

Mara chairman Annuar Musa agrees it's game over and stops sponsorship of Kelantan's Red Warriors football team after a complaint by TMJ.

PETALING JAYA: Whether Kelantan’s football team, the Red Warriors, see red or feels blue about it, any funds they expected from Mara this year are… let’s say, offside.

Majlis Amanah Rakyat (Mara) has decided to cease sponsorship for non-education related matters.

Mara’s chairman Annuar Musa said he would abide by Rural and Regional Development Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob’s instruction for Mara to stop such sponsorship deals this year.

“We will abide by the instruction. It is a good move,” he was quoted saying by Sinar Harian today.

His statement came in the light of a complaint by Johor crown prince Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim, popularly known as TMJ, who claimed that Annuar had forced MARA and its subsidiary Universiti Kuala Lumpur (UniKL) to fund the Red Warrior team.

Kelantan Football Association was under Annuar’s administration until he stepped down in November last year.

Annuar, who is also Umno Information chief, had repeatedly denied Tunku Ismail’s claim, saying no Mara’s money had gone to the team.

Meanwhile, a report by Berita Harian said Annuar would submit a full report to the rural and regional development ministry on the matter.

He also said the Red Warriors will continue to have the Mara logo on their jerseys. This is because the team had no time to provide new ones, he added. -FMT