Cuepacs: Sudden closure puts Tourism Malaysia staff in limbo

Some 232 civil servants are in limbo following the immediate closure of 18 Tourism Malaysia offices locally and abroad.

Despite Tourism Minister Nazri Abdul Aziz's assurance that there would be no retrenchments, Cuepacs president Azih Muda said staff are still in the dark.

"Workers don't know where to go, if they have to go to the state office or go to the headquarters.

"What about their pay and allowances? They don't know what's going to happen to them," the civil service union president said.

Cuepacs, too, only found out about the closure through the newspapers, he said.

Tourism Malaysia also has offices in South Africa, the United States and Australia, with staff there anxious about their fates, he said.

Cuepacs urged the government to review their drastic decision of closing down these offices immediately, as it did not give staff time to plan ahead.

"We hope none of the workers will be retrenched, especially in today's economy.

"Give them an explanation, give them options, give them a clearer picture of where there will be stationed," he said.

Malaysiakini's checks with Tourism Malaysia offices nationwide found they are still open, with workers waiting for official notices before pulling down the shutters.

Nazri reportedly said the closure, which is to avoid duplication with state tourism offices, will save the federal government RM6 million a year.- Mkini