He denied that the issue of him being investigated over the use of funds from two Mara subsidiaries to sponsor the Kelantan football team, while he was the state’s football association president, had been the cause of his suspension, which was effective Jan 31 this year.
“Many in Umno were not pleased about my support for the recognition of the UEC, especially in my decision to have Universiti Kuala Lumpur (UniKL) to accept the UEC qualification for enrolment,” Annuar was quoted as telling the Chinese daily, referring to the private university which is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Mara.
On Jan 21, Bernama reported Annuar as saying that the UEC was recognised by UniKL as an entry qualification to its university.
“Although UniKL is under Mara, it is a private higher learning institution which has received approval from the higher education ministry to accept applications from UEC holders.
“I have checked UniKL policies and indeed we are allowed to accept graduates of UEC and other international certification such as O-levels,” he had been quoted as saying, adding that many people were confused thinking UniKL was a public university because it was owned by Mara.
Around the same time, Annuar was accused of having used his influence as Mara chairman to get Pelaburan Mara Berhad (PMB) and UniKL to sponsor the Kelantan football team, known popularly as The Red Warriors. The revelation came about after a verbal spat between Annuar and Johor crown prince, Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim.
Tunku Ismail, who owns the Johor Darul Takzim football club, had questioned the use of “public funds” to “save” the Kelantan football team from a financial crisis in his accusations against Annuar.
Calling himself a “sacrificial pawn” in the fight within the party, Annuar also said that the suspension move was to ensure that he would not have a firm standing in politics.
“I even received a threat on the investigation to be carried out, in a message on a WhatsApp group, about 10 days before I was suspended.
“It all began after I issued a statement that UniKL recognises the UEC, I have received many nasty messages. I do not want to say who sent them but these nasty messages have created a mess,” Annuar was quoted as saying by Sin Chew Daily.
The UEC is a standardised examination conducted by leading Chinese education group Dong Zong (United School Committees Associations of Malaysia) in the country’s Chinese secondary schools. In the 1960s, these schools were privatised after they chose to retain Mandarin as their medium of instruction.