Kuala lumpur: The Tourism Malaysia Board (Tourism Malaysia) announced the appointment of Mohd Amirul Rizal Abdul Rahim as the new director-general effective December 8. The appointment was made by the Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture, Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing, as per the provisions of Section 10(1) of the Tourism Malaysia Act 481 1992, following the retirement of Datuk Manoharan Periasamy on December 6.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Mohd Amirul Rizal, who holds a Master's Degree in Tourism Management from Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM), began his career with Tourism Malaysia on September 2, 2002. Over his more than two decades of service, he has taken on various roles in tourism marketing and promotion. His career includes serving in the Research Division and holding positions such as Terengganu Tourism Malaysia director and director of Tourism Malaysia's Overseas Office in Seoul, South Korea, in 2008.

His experience extends to working in the Domestic Promotion and Events Division and the International Promotion Division covering Asia and Africa. Most recently, he served as the senior director of the Advertising and Digital Division. Additionally, he plays a significant role as the head of the Visit Malaysia 2026 (VM2026) secretariat, contributing to the country's international promotional efforts.

The statement from Tourism Malaysia also highlighted his involvement in associations, noting his presidency of the Tourism Malaysia Recreation Club. With 23 years of experience in tourism marketing and promotion, Tourism Malaysia expresses confidence that his leadership will enhance the development of the country's tourism industry, especially in preparation for Visit Malaysia 2026.