Press Digest - Push for UEC recognition main reason for suspension: Annuar Musa

UMNO information chief Tan Sri Annuar Musa said his push for Unified Examination Certificate’s (UEC) recognition is the main reason he was indefinitely suspended as Mara chairman in late January.
In a tell-all interview with Sin Chew Daily published today, the Ketereh MP said his temporary removal was not due to something as simple as accusations on abuse of power linked to Mara-owned Universiti Kuala Lumpur’s (UniKL) sponsorship of the Kelantan football team, The Red Warriors, while he was heading the state’s football association.
“Many people in Umno are very uncomfortable with my support for UEC’s recognition, and my open-minded stand on many issues, including my proposal for UniKL to accept the UEC as an entry qualification.
“They want an excuse to bring me down, to lose my foothold in politics.
“This is not an ordinary case, or about Mara Council holding a special meeting to look into accusations that I used internal funds to sponsor the Kelantan football team; it is about infighting.
“Ten days prior to my suspension, certain people in a WhatsApp group threatened me, saying I would be investigated,” Annuar said, describing himself as a victim of party infighting.
He admitted that problems existed in Mara, as there were differences in opinions and he had received threats.
“Some people are not happy with me, one very likely reason being my earnest calls for the government to recognise the UEC.
“Following my remarks that UniKL should admit UEC holders, I received many nasty messages.”
Annuar said the special meeting, at which a decision to suspend him was made, was pre-planned, and it all started from a posting on Johor Crown Prince Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim’s Facebook posting, questioning him over the use of public fund to save the state football team from financial crisis.
He said the crown prince could not have obtained the Mara internal document cited unless someone within Mara had leaked it.
“These people leaked it because they are not happy with me.
“Why? Because I’ve proposed that the government recognises the UEC.”
On his effort to get UEC recognised, he said he is doing “what is right” although this does not endear him to the Malay community or win him any support within Umno.