Maldives Marketing and Public Relations Corporation (MMPRC) Deputy Managing Director Mohamed Bassam Adam and the company's longest-serving employee Ibrahim Asim have been dismissed.

"Bassam and I were informed yesterday that we will be dismissed. The official dismissal letter will be given today," said Asim, who was also a member of the MMPRC board.

Asim, who has worked at MMPRC for the last 20 years, was in charge of the company's administrative and procurement departments.

He spent 22 of his 31 years in government service in the tourism sector. After serving in the Ministry of Tourism, he worked on the Tourism Promotion Board in 2004 to establish the MMPRC. He has held various positions in MMPRC since its inception.

Asim was on the judging panel for many awards in the tourism industry. He was also on the panel of judges for the award given by Maldives Association of Tourism Industry (MATI) to mark the 50th anniversary of tourism in Maldives.

The MMPRC did not disclose the reason for their dismissal.

A reliable source told Adhadhu that they were sacked on the orders of the President's Office as a cost-cutting measure.

"The position held by Asim on the MMPRC board was also abolished. An employee who has been there for so long has been dismissed after saying that there is no need for his position. He requested to be transferred to another position. But his request was declined," the source stated.

Some experts in the tourism industry expressed concern over the dismissal of an experienced employee.