Annuar Musa withdraws from FAM top post race

KUALA LUMPUR: Tan Sri Annuar Musa (pix) has withdrawn his candidacy for the Football Association of Malaysia's (FAM) top post just two days before the polls.
Annuar's surprise withdrawal means his only rival for the post Tunku Mahkota Johor (TMJ) Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim will be elected as FAM's new president.
“After a long deliberation, I have decided to pull out and allow the other candidate to win uncontested, thus making him the next FAM president.
“I’ve been thinking about this (withdrawal), and this is my decision alone, I never discussed this with anyone, not even with my wife,”Annuar told reporters at the Dewan Rakyat today.
The FAM presidential election will be held in conjunction with the 53rd FAM Congress scheduled for March 25.
The contest was supposed to be a straight fight between Annuar and Tunku Ismail.
Annuar said he decided to withdraw after several allegations were thrown at him during the campaign period, which includes his affiliation with the Youth and Sports Ministry.
“Even if there is a contest, I expect it to be held in harmony and in the spirit of sportsmanship as I view this post as merely a responsibility to the sport itself.
“I hope there will be no exaggeration, because there is speculation that Khairy had instructed the delegates to vote for me. This is not true and it can also affect my relationship with the ministry,” he said.
Annuar said he had informed TMJ of his withdrawal via a text message, minutes before he announced his decision.
“Voters can still vote for me because the ballots have been printed. I hope the FAM secretariat can make a follow up action after this," he said.
Annuar also denied that his withdrawal was linked to the Majlis Amanah Rakyat (Mara) probe against him.
“My withdrawal from the FAM presidency has no links with Mara. The issue of football should not be linked with other issues," he said.