Maba said Lua Choon Hann had taken leave “voluntarily with immediate effect”.

“As Maba president, Lua felt he is ultimately responsible for the organisation and procedures of the association,” it said in a statement.

Lua’s deputy, Tan Kang Yong, will be acting president.

Maba ignited controversy after displaying a Malaysian flag, with a five-point version of the 14-point star, during the opening ceremony of a recent tournament in Kuala Lumpur.

In a Facebook post, Maba said its live broadcast team had accidentally put up the wrong flag on the digital display.

Photos and videos of the flag gaffe at the opening ceremony of the 28th Maba Milo Lum Mun Chak Cup (2019) tournament have been circulating on social media, with some internet users accusing the association of racism and promoting communism.

Maba has since apologised over the blunder and has terminated the contractor responsible for displaying the flag on the LED screen.

Today, the association promised to take legal action based on the outcome of the ongoing investigation.

“Maba is cooperating fully with the relevant authorities pertaining to this investigation,” adding that the incident was an unintentional oversight.