Tourism, Arts, and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing clarified that reports claiming the dismissal of Malaysian Tourism Promotion Board (Tourism Malaysia) director-general (DG) Datuk Dr Ammar Abd Ghapar are inaccurate. Instead, Ammar was demoted due to unmet goals.
Tiong stated that many opportunities have been given to Ammar since he has a PhD degree in tourism.He also said the Tourism Malaysia DG had to be demoted because if the officers at the ministry do not perform or do not deliver, they have to be removed.“I am worried that I have been giving many opportunities and advice. But I don’t know (whether) he has no idea or he doesn’t know how to do it. If one can’t ‘perform’, I have to remove them,” he told the media when met at the inauguration of the National Craft Day at the Kuala Lumpur Craft Complex today.Yesterday (Feb 23), several news outlets reported that Ammar had confirmed that he had been removed from his post with effect from Monday (Feb 19).Speaking to the media, Ammar claimed that he only received a letter from Tiong this morning.“The letter just says that effective Feb 26, I am no longer the director-general. It does not say anything else. Transferred to where, holding what post, what grade.” – Feb 24, 2024
Main photo credit: Bernama
