SIMUNJAN: The withdrawal of Sarawak’s sole representative on the Malaysia Tourism Board (MTB) has nothing to do with the on-going spat between a state minister and Tourism and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Nazri Aziz.
State Tourism, Arts, Culture, Youth and Sports Minister Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah said the state government had already planned to withdraw its representative from the board for quite some time.
"Sarawak has its own entity, which is the Sarawak Tourism Board, to carry out promotions for our state.
"The withdrawal of (our) representative (is) purely to avoid duplication of tasks, and not because of the spat between me and Nazri.
"It just happened that the notice was issued today," Karim told reporters here today.
In a statement earlier today, the Chief Minister's Office announced the withdrawal of its representative from the MTB with immediate effect.
The move coincides with an escalating tiff between Nazri and Karim over the implementation of the new tourism tax.