Majlis Amanah Rakyat (Mara) has suspended Umno information chief Annuar Musa as its chairperson with immediate effect, according to news reports.

Berita Harian said an emergency board meeting held at the Mara headquarters in Kuala Lumpur this morning also decided to suspend Annuar as chairperson of Pelaburan Mara Bhd (PMB).

Whereas Bernama said the suspension is to facilitate investigations into allegations that Mara Investment and Universiti Kuala Lumpur (UniKL) sponsored the Kelantan football team, which Annuar is linked to.

However, the suspension appears to have caught Rural and Regional Development Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob, who oversees Mara, by surprise.

Annuar had held the post for two years from July 19, 2013, and in August 2015, his reappointment for another two years, effective Aug 12 that year, was announced by Ismail.

Ismail (photo) told Malaysiakini he was not sure of what the board's decision was, but is convinced that it was only a suggestion.

"The power to appoint a (Mara) chairperson falls under the minister's (Ismail's) jurisdiction, and (must be) agreed to by the prime minister," he added.

Ismail said he was aware that there would be a Mara meeting this morning, but was not informed of the agenda.

Section 3(3) of the Mara Act states that the chairperson is to be appointed by the minister in charge.

The Berita Harian report also stated that Mara board member Yusof Yacob would be acting chairperson.

Yusof was reported to have said that Annuar had been informed of the move, and had accepted it.

Meanwhile, Annuar told Oriental Daily that he did not wish to comment on the suspension.

"I don't want to comment, I don't want to have any preconceptions or emotional statements. I accept this arrangement," he is quoted as saying.

On Jan 12, Johor Crown Prince Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim accused Annuar of using his positions in Mara and UniKL to secure sponsorships for TRW.

Tunku Ismail also revealed several documents detailing the said transactions and questioned if the sponsorship was the reason why UniKL was forced to reduce scholarships for its students by RM700 million last year.

Annuar, who is also former Kelantan Football Association (Kafa) president, has denied the allegations.