KUCHING: The state government has decided to withdraw Sarawak’s sole representative in the Malaysia Tourism Board with immediate effect.
"The state government deems that the participation of its representative in Tourism Malaysia is not necessary, as (it duplicates) the role and functions of the Sarawak Tourism Board," the Chief Minister's Office said in a statement today.
The abrupt move comes amidst a nasty spat between Tourism and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Nazri Aziz and Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah, the state minister in charge of Tourism, over the new tourism tax.
Nazri recently explained that collections from the new tax will be distributed to all states, including Sarawak.
Nazri also labelled Karim “inexperienced” and a “young minister” for raising concerns over the tax, and reminded the latter that there are "bigger gangsters" than he.
His remarks triggered the wrath of netizens as well as Sarawak Barisan Nasional leaders, who described his statements as "harsh", "uncalled for" and “immature.”