Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah
KUCHING: State Tourism, Arts, Culture, Youth and Sports Minister Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah said the latest decision by the Chief Minister’s Office to pull out from the Malaysia Tourism Board (MTB) was not due to the spat between him and Tourism and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Nazri Abdul Aziz.
He said the decision belonged to Chief Minister Datuk Amar Abang Johari Tun Openg, who had his reasons for doing so.
“No, it (the latest decision of CMO) is not related to what happened between Datuk Nazri and me,” he told The Borneo Post today, when asked whether the decision was made due to the recent exchange of words between him and Nazri.
Abdul Karim, however, agreed with Abang Johari’s decision because MTB has “not much been doing much for Sarawak”.
“With due respect to MTB, it has not been doing much for Sarawak. We might as well help ourselves through the Sarawak Tourism Board,” he said, while insisting that the federal government should have consulted Sarawak first before pushing the Tourism Tax on Sarawak.
Meanwhile, following Chief Minister’s Office announcement that Sarawak is pulling out of MTB, Malaysia Association of Hotels (MAH) is also leaving MTB.
According to MAH Sarawak Chapter president Ibrahim Nordin, MAH has also withdrew from MTB.
“MAH national has withdrawn our representatives from MTB too,” Ibrahim told The Borneo Post today.
He said the reason was the same as the state government’s.
“Our industry’s voice is being ignored and our participation is not benefiting our industry,” he said.
In related news, Nazri told an online portal that the state 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,” he was quoted as saying, adding that his ministry would continue to promote Sarawak’s tourism sector as the state was part of Malaysia.
Following the announcement of the closure of Tourism Malaysia office in the state earlier this year, Abang Johari had said that the closure will not affect Sarawak’s tourism sector.
He was reported to say that the decision had no impact on the state’s tourist arrivals.
“From the start I cannot rely on Tourism Malaysia to promote Sarawak and boost our tourism sector.
“So if they want to close their offices here, let it be.”