High Court dismisses Annuar Musa's originating summons against FAM

Tan Sri Annuar Musa's attempt to challenge his 30-month suspension as Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) deputy president through an originating summons against the association was dismissed with costs by the High Court here today.

Judge Hadhariah Syed Ismail made the decision in chambers.

Counsel Yusfarizal Yussoff, who had represented Annuar in the case, told reporters the court was satisfied that the FAM had the discretion to suspend the plaintiff and that it had adhered to all the procedures in the statute and disciplinary code procedure.

On whether Annuar would appeal against the court's decision, he said they would study the grounds of judgement before deciding.

Annuar had filed the action on June 5, 2012, naming FAM as the first defendant and its secretary general, Datuk Azzudin Ahmad, as the second defendant.

This followed the FAM Disciplinary Committee's action on June 4, 2012, to suspend him for allegedly making a negative statement about the national football team to the media on Feb 12, 2012.

Annuar contended the punishment was inconsistent with the allegation against him and that FAM had acted mala fide.

In his statement of claim, he said, among others, that he was denied his basic right when he was disallowed by the second defendant in a letter dated April 2, 2012, to send a representative to the 21st FAM special disciplinary committee meeting.

He questioned why Azzudin, as explained to him, should represent him in the meeting when the latter was the one who made the charge against him.

Annuar had sought to declare among others that the FAM's letter dated March 16, 2012, which led to his suspension was flawed, illegal and void.

He had also sought an injunction to restrain the defendants from preventing him from carrying out his duties as the associations deputy president and from involvement in related activities.