MMPRC fires DMD Bassam and longest-serving employee ‘to cut costs’

Maldives Marketing and Public Relations Corporation (MMPRC) had dismissed tqo top officials at the corporation; Mohamed Bassam Adam, who had been serving as the deputy managing director, and Ibrahim Asim (IB), who was serving as a director and was also the corporation’s longest-serving employee.

The decision was made during a board meeting held on Monday.

A top official from MMPRC told Sun on Tuesday that the corporation was dissolving some of its posts as part of the austerity measures announced by the government.

The official said that Bassam and Asim weren’t fired, but “left the job after their posts were dissolved.”

“The two posts were dissolved as part of structural changes being made at MMPRC as part of the government’s fiscal consolidation policy,” said the official.

Bassam had served as acting managing director at MMPRC, filling the vacuum in the corporation’s top management after Aisha Nurain Janah resigned as chairperson and Fathimath Thaufeeq (Kudee) was dismissed from her position as managing director – both of which took place within the span of two days in May.

Bassam had headed MMPRC until Ibrahim Shiuree was appointed as the managing director in June.

Meanwhile, Asim had been the longest-serving employee at MMPRC – having worked at the corporation since its inception.

He has over 30 years of experience in the tourism promotion, and had worked at the Tourism Ministry before he joined MMPRC.

The major shakeup within the MMPRC in May had come amid media reports of clashes within the corporation’s management.