Sarawak Just Withdrew From Malaysia Tourism Board Following Tourism Tax Row
The abrupt move comes after an ugly spat between Nazri and Sarawak's Karim.
By Sadho Ram — 12 Jun 2017, 02:32 PM
Earlier today, 12 June, the Sarawak Government withdrew its representative in the Malaysia Tourism Board with immediate effect
In a statement issued by the Sarawak Chief Minister's Office, it said that the Sarawak Government deemed its representation in Tourism Malaysia as unnecessary as this would be duplicating the role and functions of the Sarawak Tourism Promotion Board.
While no other reason was given for the withdrawal, the move comes amidst a very ugly spat between Nazri Aziz and Sarawak's Minister in charge of Tourism Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah
Datuk Seri Nazri Aziz, the Tourism and Culture Minister, had recently said that the Sarawak's Minister for Tourism Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah was "ignorant" on the workings of the Tourism Tax affecting all states, even to the extent to describe Abdul Karim's request for a deferment of the tax on Sarawak as an act of gangsterism.
"You should not talk big in politics. If you want to show samseng (thuggery), we are bigger samseng," Nazri Aziz had said to Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah.
Meanwhile, Sabah Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Seri Masidi Manjun described Sarawak's decision as a "good move"
Nazri, on the other hand, told Malaysiakini that the Sarawak Government's decision had nothing to do with him and Abdul Karim
"I agree with that (decision). I already withdrew the (state) tourism director and closed down Tourism Malaysia's office (in Sarawak) earlier this year to cut costs. I am grateful that the state government understands what I did by withdrawing its representative. What it did is in line with what I did," Malaysiakini quoted Nazri as saying.
