He also said the closure of the offices should be postponed to allow the staff to get a clearer picture of their situation.

“The workers were not given a briefing or informed of their relocation,” Azih told the media at Wisma Cuepacs here today.

Tourism and Culture Minister Mohamed Nazri Abdul Aziz said in Malacca two days ago that the tourism offices would be closed with immediate effect, and the staff retained and redeployed to the ministry headquarters and other departments.

He said the offices were closed to avoid the issue of job duplication.

The closure is expected to save the ministry about RM6 million a year, which will be used for other expenses.

Following the closure of the state offices, the ministry will open and operate through five regional information offices in selected states.

The issue of job duplication, however, was not new to the ministry, said Azih.

“They didn’t just find out today that there is job duplication. It has been going on for a while. Don’t make a drastic move to save RM6 million without thinking about the hardship to the staff and what they have done for the ministry,” said Azih.

He hoped the ministry was not taking the matter lightly because it affected 232 employees.

“We are not against the closure but at least give the officers the option of which agency to be relocated to. At least inform the officers of the closure so they are not disheartened.”

Azih said no official notice of the closure was given to the staff except for an internal circular which provided the rationale for the move but not the date of the closure.

He said it was only proper to give the workers prior notice, even if it was only a few days or a week.

“Maybe the minister has forgotten that these officers too have wives and children to take care of,” he said.
Cuepacs has already requested a meeting with Nazri over the matter, he said.

“We hope he (Nazri) will sympathise with the officers.”