style="text-transform: uppercase;">Kuala Lumpur: Tan Sri Annuar Musa has the right to contest for the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) president post despite being investigated by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC), said Khairy Jamaluddin. Khairy, who is Youth and Sports Minister and one of the nominees for the FAM president seat, said he had no right to tell Annuar that he could not contest.

"I have no right to say he can't contest. I hope the investigation by the MACC will be completed by March before the congress meets," he said at a press conference after an open dialogue with students on TN50, here, Saturday.

The congress that oversees electing of the next president will be meeting in a month's time.

As of now, four have been nominated including the Johor Crown Prince and owner of Johor Darul Ta'zim, Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim; former Putrajaya Corporation president Tan Sri Aseh Che Mat, who is also FAM integrity committee chairman; and Annuar, a former FAM deputy president.

Annuar, is currently suspended from his posts as chairman of Mara (Majlis Amanah Rakyat) and Pelaburan Mara Bhd (PMB), following a Mara council meeting last Tuesday, to enable Mara's internal audit team to investigate several matters including the sponsorship of the Kelantan football team, the Red Warriors, by PMB and Mara-owned UniKL.

Subsequently, the MACC on the same day confirmed opening an investigation paper to probe allegations of corruption and abuse of power against Annuar.

Khairy also said that he would soon be meeting with those who had nominated him for the post of FAM president and ask on the reason behind his nomination.

On another matter, Khairy said his ministry would continue to monitor the construction site of KL Sports City until the SEA Games in August after two athletes and a National Sports Council (NSC) officer were affected by dengue fever.

"We will be very diligent and ensure that the same incident will not happen again.

Rest assured, the situation is under control," he said.

The three who had dengue fever were discharged from hospital yesterday and are currently being monitored. – Bernama