KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 24 — Tourism, Arts, and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing today has deinedthat Malaysian Tourism Promotion Board (Tourism Malaysia) director-general Datuk Ammar Abd Ghapar was sacked from his post.
Instead, he was demoted to the post of deputy director-general.
The decision was made due Ammar's declining performance, which was described as unsatisfactory, despite being advised several times to improve.
"I gave him a chance because he has a PhD (Doctor of Philosophy) in Tourism, but it does not show in his work.
“Tourists come here, but there are no new destinations (because) he does not do engagements with other states and countries," he said.
Tiong was responding to press reports and social media posts on Ammar's dismissal as Malaysian Tourism director-general, as was allegedly stated in a letter dated February 22.
According to the letter, the termination of Ammar's service, effective next Monday (February 26), was under Subsection 10 (1) of the Malaysian Tourism Promotion Board Act 1992 (Act 481), read together with Section 47 of the Interpretation Act 1948 and 1967 (Act 388).
Elaborating on the matter, he said one of the reasons for the action on Ammar’s was not engaging with industry players.
"For example, with China, I said (target) five million inbound tourists, because they are tourists and they spend, (but) he said it cannot be achieved, (and set) only three million tourists.
"However, the number of tourists who came did not reach three million, (only) 1.6 million tourists. It means he did not conduct engagements, other states complained...there is no answer... so now we have seen all the weaknesses," Tiong said.
He added that Ammar would retire in March next year, but he (Tiong) could not wait until then to take action for the survival of the Malaysian tourism industry.
Meanwhile, the minister said Senior Director of International Promotion (Asia and Africa) cum the Acting Deputy Director-General (Planning) P. Manoharan will be appointed to replace Ammar, which will be made according to the stipulated procedure.
— Bernama
