THE tourism minister dismissed claims that a senior official was unfairly demoted, describing the allegations as baseless and an attempt to discredit him.
Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing said rumours surrounding the demotion of Datuk Dr Ammar Abd Ghapar as Tourism Malaysia’s director-general were "entirely fabricated" and circulated by fake social media accounts.
"Unfounded rumours have been circulating regarding Dr Ammar’s demotion last year. Upon verification, these claims are traced to fake accounts and are entirely fabricated," he said on Facebook.
The controversy erupted after online speculation linked Dr Ammar’s demotion to alleged policy decisions, including changes to tourism subsidies and the promotion of Chinese tourism was shared on Facebook.
Tiong said such claims were "completely false" and insisted that the ministry operates fairly.
"All subsidy policies by MOTAC are implemented fairly, regardless of the business owner’s racial background. Any eligible company can apply. There is no racial bias in the allocation of subsidies."
He also rejected suggestions that Malaysia prioritised tourists from China over visitors from other regions.
"Malaysia welcomes tourists from all over the world. We promote tourism in various regions, including China, ASEAN, Europe, and the Middle East. Given China’s vast population, promotional efforts naturally require more time, but that does not mean tourism in other markets is being neglected."
He added that the claim that the...
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