Karim appointed as assistant minister

By RINTOS MAIL rintos@thestar.com.my

September 29, 2011

KUCHING: Chief Minister Tan Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud has announced his full Cabinet line-up, keeping all the existing ministers in their respective portfolios in a concerted effort to improve and accelerate service delivery in the state.

All the existing assistant ministers are not affected in the reshuffle as they have also been retained in their respective portfolios.

The reshuffle yesterday, done five months after the state Barisan Nasional was returned to power, saw seven new assistant ministers appointed to fill up posts made vacant after the state election in April.

Announcing the changes, which come into effect tomorrow, in his office at Wisma Bapa Malaysia yesterday, Taib said he had also decided to promote three ministers, namely PRS president Tan Sri Dr James Masing, SPDP president Tan Sri William Mawan and SUPP deputy secretary general Datuk Sri Wong Soon Koh to the rank of Senior Minister.

However, in as far as their respective ministries are concer- ned, Masing is still designated as Land Development Minister; Mawan, because his ministry has been renamed, is Social Develop- ment Minister, while Wong is Second Finance Minister as well as Local Government and Com- munity Development Minister, another ministry which has been renamed.

Taib said the role of the Senior Ministers was to cordinate and supervise the changes set to take place in the various ministries.

He said he had decided to keep all the experienced ministers in their respective portfolios because he wanted them to continue supervising the machinery of the government under their ministries as well as the new assistant ministers.

New ministry, seven new faces in Sarawak cabinet reshuffle

September 29, 2011

KUCHING: The state cabinet reshuffle that will take effect on Friday will see a new ministry being created, five ministries renamed and seven new faces including a woman to be appointed as assistant ministers.

Chief Minister Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud said the new ministry would be named the Welfare, Women and Family Development Ministry, to be headed by Datuk Fatimah Abdullah and assisted by two new assistant ministers who are also new faces, Rosey Yunus and Robert Lawson Chuat Vincent.

“The other new faces as assistant ministers are Julaihi Narawi, Abdul Karim Hamzah, Datu Len Talif Salleh, Dr Jerip Susil and Liwan Lagang,” he said, adding that the seven would be sworn in on Friday.

Julaihi will be appointed as Industrial Development Assistant Minister (Investment and Promotion) and Rural Development Assistant Minister, and Abdul Karim as Housing Assistant Minister and Social Development Assistant Minister (Youth Development).

Datu Len Talif will be appointed as Resource Planning and Environment Assistant Minister (Environment) and Assistant Minister in the Chief Minister’s Office (Technical Education Promotion), Dr Jerip as Local Government and Community Development Assistant Minister (Public Health), and Liwan as Social Development Assistant Minister (Culture and Heritage).

“All the full ministers will be retained and some of their ministries renamed,” he said.

The five ministries renamed include the Social Development and Urbanisation Ministry, which is now known as Social Development Ministry and headed by Sarawak Progressive Democratic Party (SPDP) president Tan Sri William Mawan Ikom and Environment and Public Health Ministry, now known as Local Government and Community Development Ministry, headed by Sarawak United People’s Party deputy secretary-general Datuk Seri Wong Soon Koh.

Abdul Karim’s comments draw flak from DBNA stalwart

Posted on September 23, 2011, Friday

KUCHING: A former senior civil servant and long serving DBNA supreme council member finds the comments by Chief Political Secretary to the Chief Minister Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah on the controversial statement by Dayak Bidayuh National Association (DBNA) president Datuk Ik Pahon Joyik “very confusing”.

He told The Borneo Post here yesterday that he did not quite agree with the Asajaya assemblyman’s view as reported in the newspaper.

“When YB Karim said Pahon’s statement must be seen from the right context he has to first of all remember that DBNA is a non-political organisation and therefore the leaders are not supposed to mix the association with politics.

“Because of that Pahon’s statement can never be seen from the right context. It is already wrong in the perspective of DBNA when the association, under its constitution, is supposed to be non-political,” he said.

He said under the DBNA constitution the objectives of the association were to promote unity, mutual help, cooperation, understanding and friendship among the Bidayuh community, foster cooperation and goodwill with other races, inculcate self-reliance among Bidayuhs and encourage them to raise their standard of living.

“Other objectives are to instill among the community a sense of devotion and undivided loyalty to the country, to promote the spiritual, mental, physical and social well-being of its members and the community as a whole, to encourage Bidayuhs to take full measure of responsibility in civic affairs and to participate actively in nation building; and to work in close cooperation with the government and other relevant agencies for the welfare and socio-economic progress of the community,” he said in quoting the DBNA constitution.

Wishing to be known as Sukuh Manggeng, he said Pahon’s statement that the three incumbent Bidayuh MPs should give way to young blood was not only wrong in his capacity as president of DBNA but also against the general orders in the civil service.

Abdul Karim bangga Piala Perpaduan capai matlamat

September 21, 2011

JUARA: Abdul Karim (dua kiri) menyampaikan piala juara kepada ketua pasukan Kaslo FC sambil disaksikan Zawawi (kiri), Haidel dan Buang (belakang) di Kampung Sambir, Asajaya.

ASAJAYA: Ketua Setiausaha Politik Ketua Menteri, Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah melahirkan rasa bangga dengan penganjuran kejohanan tertua, Piala Perpaduan Sambir yang telah mencapai matlamatnya untuk menyatupadukan rakyat.

Beliau yang juga Ahli Dewan Undangan Negeri (ADUN) Asajaya ternyata kagum dengan penganjuran kejohanan itu yang kini sudah mencecah edisi ke-45.

“Saya amat gembira dengan kejayaan pihak penganjur kejohanan Piala Perpaduan Sambir yang menjadikan acara sukan itu berprestij diadakan setiap tahun,” katanya berucap merasmikan penutupan kejohanan itu di sini Ahad lalu.

Hadir sama Naib Presiden Persatuan Bola Sepak Sarawak (FAS) Haidel Heli, Setiausaha Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) Asajaya Buang Bolhassan dan pengerusi penganjur, Zawawi Keri.

Kejohanan berkenaan pada mulanya dinamakan Piala Ekspress Sambir ditukarkan kepada Piala Ketua Menteri dan kemudiannya ditukar kini sebagai Piala Abdul Karim.

Abdul Karim berkata kejohanan itu bukan sahaja menjadi medan bagi menyatupadukan penduduk, malah sebagai gelanggang melahirkan pemain-pemain bola sepak berbakat di peringkat akar umbi.

Menurutnya, kejohanan Piala Perpaduan Sambir juga sinonim dengan memeriahkan sambutan perayaan Hari Raya Aidilfitri kerana dianjurkan selepas Hari Raya terbabit.

‘See Ik Pahon’s comments from proper perspective’

September 21, 2011

KUCHING: The so-called controversial statement made by Datuk Ik Pahon Joyik that the three Bidayuh MPs give way to young blood must be seen from the right context, said chief political secretary to the chief minister Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah.

He pointed out that when the statement was made, Ik Pahon did it in his capacity as the president of Dayak Bidayuh National Association (DBNA) and not as a senior civil servant.

“Surely DBNA members should be proud to have a president who is outspoken and not condemn him (force him) to seal his lips just because he is a civil servant.

If that is what the (DBNA) members want, then amend the DBNA constitution to forbid civil servants to hold office in DBNA because by him holding office and barring him (Ik Pahon) from commenting on Bidayuh affairs will not help the community,” he said when contacted yesterday.

Ik Pahon, who is the permanent secretary to the Ministry of Tourism and Heritage, recently caused a stir when he said it was high time that the three Bidayuh MPs give way to young persons.

Abdul Karim said he regarded the comment as being made sincerely in his (Ik Pahon’s) capacity as DBNA president.

“Nobody should be emotional about it.

Asajaya rep: Visit state more often and discover folk here are equally developed

By VANES DEVINDRAN vanes@thestar.com.my

Tuesday September 20, 2011

KUCHING: Malaysians from the peninsula have been asked to visit Sarawak more often so that they get to know the people here better.

Abdul Rahman Karim Hamzah, the political secretary to the Chief Minister, said some wrong perceptions of the state and its people remained a thorny issue because of the lack of traffic between Sarawak and the peninsula.

He said it was unfortunate that there were Peninsular Malaysians who believed that Sarawakians were living on trees.

He said the reason for the misperception was because these Peninsular Malaysians never visited the state. 

“Believe it or not, we still get questions like if Sarawakians are still living on trees from some of our Semenanjung brothers and sisters. These people still perceive Sarawakians as so backward that we don’t even know how to build houses.

“However, as you can see for yourself, we are developing well just like any other states in the peninsula,” he said at a Hari Raya gathering for a group of visitors representing several neighbourhood watch committees from the peninsula here on Sunday night.

Proof of participation: Karim presenting a certificate to a participant of the integration and unity visit to homestays in Samarahan as Azman (left) and National Unity and Integration state director Dirwana Azool look on during the Hari Raya gathering.

The programme was organised by the National Unity and Integration Department as a platform to get participants to see how the state was shaping up.

Malaysia perlukan undang-undang pencegahan seperti ISA



September 17, 2011

Undang-undang ganti ISA diharap cegah anasir berbahaya terhadap masyarakat majmuk

KUCHING: Dua undang-undang yang bakal digubal menggantikan Akta Keselamatan Dalam Negeri (ISA) 1960 diharap berperanan mencegah anasir berbahaya terhadap hubungan antara masyarakat majmuk di negara ini.

Ketua Setiausaha Politik Ketua Menteri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah berkata, undang-undang itu kelak wajar mempertimbangkan kemungkinan munculnya ekstremis kaum atau agama yang dikhuatiri menggugat ketenteraman awam.

“Kita mahu melihat apakah pengganti terhadap ISA yang telah dijanjikan kerana dalam keadaan masyarakat majmuk dan berlainan agama kita amat memerlukan undang-undang pencegahan seperti ISA untuk menangani ekstremis dalam masyarakat.

“Kita tidak mahu jadi macam Yugoslavia suatu ketika dahulu yang telah berpecah-belah mengikut etnik dan bangsa ekoran timbulnya ekstremis bangsa dan agama,” katanya ketika dihubungi, semalam.

Abdul Karim yang juga ADUN Asajaya berkata lagi, pemansuhan undang-undang tersebut juga menunjukkan Perdana Menteri Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak sebagai prihatin dan sensitif terhadap hak asasi dan permintaan rakyat.

“Ia merupakan perkara yang dijanjikan oleh Najib apabila mengambil alih tampuk pemerintahan dahulu,” katanya.

Beliau bagaimanapun berharap Najib tidak terlalu mengikut telunjuk pembangkang apabila menyentuh perundangan berkaitan ketenteraman awam.

Welcome tinged with caution to repeal of ISA

Peter Sibon, reporters@theborneopost.com

September 16, 2011, Friday

KUCHING: The announcement on the abolition of the Internal Security Act 1960 (ISA) by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak last night received mixed reactions from local law makers from both sides of the political divide and a human rights activist.

Chairman of the state BN Backbenchers’ Club and the chief political secretary to the chief minister Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah said he was unsure whether the abolishment of the restrictive law was a right move or not.

“For a multi-ethnic and multi religious country like Malaysia, we surely need restrictive laws like the ISA but what is important is that the usage of these laws must be purely against those who pose security threat to the nation and not against political opponents,” Abdul Karim told The Borneo Post here last night.

PKR Sarawak chief Baru Bian said the prime minister was taking a big gamble by abolishing the restrictive laws.

“We welcomed the announcement as it was really high time, such draconian laws should have been abolished long time ago as our country has achieved its independence for almost 50 years,” he said.

Baru who is also the Ba Kelalan assemblyman also stressed that there were still laws such as those under police custody where abuse could still take place.

“So we have to wait and see the outcome of the announcement,” he said.

Kebebasan bersuara secara sederhana

September 15, 2011

ANUGERAH PELAJAR DIPLOMA TERBAIK: Jamil (enam kiri) berdiri bersebelahan Karim (tujuh kiri) sewaktu sesi bergambar berkumpulan di Pusat Konvensyen Borneo Kuching (BCCK) malam kelmarin.

KUCHING: Ketua Setiausaha Politik Ketua Menteri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah mahu kebebasan bersuara, memberi pendapat dan luahan direbut mahasiswa tetapi dilakukan secara berpada-pada.

Karim yang juga Ahli Dewan Undangan Negeri (ADUN) Asajaya berkata mahasiswa perlu ‘keluar dari kepompong lama’ dan bertindak sebagai ejen perubahan tanpa membuta tuli.

“Mahasiswa perlu melengkapkan diri dengan kemahiran insaniah dan pengetahuan agar menjadi bangsa yang lebih bertamadun, kompetitif dan berkualiti demi membantu membangunkan negara,”ujarnya ketika berucap di Majlis Makan Malam Pragraduan Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM) Sesi Mei-Oktober 2011 di sini malam kelmarin.

Beliau turut meluahkan kekesalan terhadap golongan mahasiswa yang kurang peka kepada isu nasional dan antarabangsa dan menggesa mereka berubah.

“Mereka kekok untuk berbicara dalam menyatakan pendirian tentang sesuatu isu dan cetek dalam persoalan disiplin ilmu.

“Jika dilihat pada waktu dulu, mereka merupakan golongan yang sentiasa menjuarai isu-isu besar dalam negara malahan dianggap suara hati rakyat dalam membela nasib dan merungkai keperitan hidup masyarakat,” tambahnya.

Sementara itu beliau memberitahu bahawa kadar pengangguran di kalangan mahasiswa lepasan diploma dan sarjana semakin meningkat.

Karim defends Mahmud’s political standing

September 11, 2011

KUCHING: Dato Sri Mahmud Abu Bekir Taib is a capable individual to perform as a member of parliament for Kota Samarahan if he is nominated in the next general election.

According to Chief Secretary to the Chief Minister, Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah, Mahmud as a corporate figure will be able to carry the responsibilities of an elected representative well.

Answering a question by a reporter during his Hari Raya open house at Jalan Astana yesterday, Karim said claims made by certain individuals that Mahmud will not perform, just like his brother Dato Sri Sulaiman Taib, is unfounded.

“In my opinion, each individual has his own style. We cannot generalise,” he said.

Karim, who is state Barisan Nasional backbenchers chairman, said each individual is different.

“Take, for example, the political scenario in Sarawak, the State Legislative Assembly (DUN) speaker Dato Asfia’s brother is in the opposition,” he added. Therefore, Karim said it is not fair to look at Mahmud in the same light as Sulaiman who might have his own personal issues and could not perform in serving the people in his full capacity.

“However, Kota Samarahan is developing rapidly from various efforts between BN and community leaders, and the result itself is important,” he said. On the question of the risk taken if nominating Mahmud who does not reside in Sarawak, Karim said the news has not been confirmed and no official statement has been made.

Karim: Bekir is not the only one fit for Kota Samarahan

September 11, 2011

KUCHING: PBB has many good candidates to contest in Kota Samarahan in the event that incumbent Datuk Seri Sulaiman Abdul Rahman Taib decides not to seek re-election in the next general election.

Asajaya assemblyman Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah said Datuk Seri Mahmud Abu Bekir, the eldest son of Chief Minister Tan Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud, was not the only possible candidate for the constituency.

Raya cheer: Karim (second right) and wife Zuraini Abdul Jabbar (left) welcoming guests to their open house.

“PBB is never short of good candidates. We have dozens of good candidates which we can throw in at any time in an election and we’ll win handsomely.

“I don’t mean to be arrogant but I’m sure when we face the parliamentary polls, the majority can easily be in five-digit figure. Kota Samarahan is Barisan Nasional’s bastion,” he told reporters at his Hari Raya Aidilfitri open house.

It was recently reported that Bekir, a corporate leader, had stated his intention to be a politician.

A member of PBB, since he was 19, he had also said he hoped to get his father’s blessing for his move into politics.

Taib did not mention where his son would contest in the coming general election although it is speculated that he would replace his brother Sulaiman in Kota Samarahan.

Karim: PBB not scared of opposition candidate in Kota Samarahan

September 6, 2011

KUCHING: Voters in Kota Samarahan are certain to show the opposition the exit door come the next general election.

Chief Political Secretary to the Chief Minister Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah said this is because Kota Samarahan is a stronghold of Barisan Nasional (BN) and will always remain that way.

“PKR, PAS, DAP or whoever are keen (to contest in Kota Samarahan) can try their luck there. We are prepared for anybody,” he said when contacted yesterday.

He said PBB was not scared by news that the opposition was keen to field its candidate there because the party had contributed a lot to the development of the parliamentary constituency.

“PKR, PAS or DAP contributed nothing to the development of Kota Semarahan except instigating the rakyat there to go against the government, creating suspicion among the races and demonising our leaders.

“The rakyat in Kota Samarahan do not welcome the opposition and come the general election, they will show the door to them,” he said.

Last Saturday, state PKR vice chief See Chee How said there was a possibility that Hussain Abang Apok, who contested under the party’s banner in the last state election, would contest in Kota Samarahan.