KUALA LUMPUR: Filmmakers Dr Ahmad Idham Ahmad Nazri and Datuk Seri Eizlan Yusof are no longer with the Foreign Ministry as their contracts have been terminated.
According to Sinar Harian, their termination which apparently took place on Wednesday was confirmed by Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Abdullah.
However, Saifuddin did not comment on the matter when asked about the termination of contracts.
"I have no comments on this," he said in the news report.
Ahmad Idham and Eizlan joined the ministry on Nov 1 last year as cultural secretary and creative advisor respectively.
It is believed that Ahmad Idham who was previously CEO of the National Film Development Corporation Malaysia (FINAS) had resigned from the position to join Saifuddin at the ministry.
The Foreign Minister had previously said that Ahmad Idham took a pay cut to join the ministry while Eizlan took up his post without pay and likened their tenure as "national service".
A source close to the ministry said that the two personalities had planned to contest in the 15th General Election as Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia candidates.
The source added that the move was unfortunately not welcomed by party members since they did not have grassroots support.