Asajaya representative taking over duties of Kota Samarahan MP

Saturday October 15, 2011

KUCHING: Asajaya assemblyman Abdul Karim Hamzah has taken over funding allocation and administration duties from Kota Samarahan MP Datuk Seri Sulaiman Abdul Rahman Taib.

Karim, who is the newly appointed Youth Development and Housing Assistant Minister, told reporters here yesterday that he had a “good relationship” with Samarahan residents.

“Whatever money is allocated to him (Sulaiman), I’m the one who is handling it,” Karim said in response to a question on whether an assemblyman like him felt “handicapped” that the Kota Samarahan MP “has not been on the ground much”.

“That problem does not arise at all,” Karim said. “The committees which are supposed to be held by him, most of them are handled by me.”

Asked what was Sulaiman’s reason for his absence, Karim replied: “I believe he has got some personal problems himself.”

On whether Karim had communicated with Sulaiman recently, Karim said: “Not really.”

“A long time ago, yes (we communicated). Each MP is allocated certain amount of funds, those funds are looked after by his (Sulaiman’s) office, together with myself and Datuk Seri Ali,” Karim said, referring to Muara Tuang assemblyman Datuk Seri Mohamad Ali Mahmud.

“There is really no problem at all. His constituents, the voters have no complaints,” Karim said. 

He said Kota Samarahan residents enjoyed good working relationships with councils and other grassroots government agencies.

Sulaiman won in his first-ever election outing at Kota Samarahan in the 2008 general election. Sulaiman took over from his father Chief Minister Tan Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud.

Following his win, Sulaiman was appointed to the Federal Cabinet as Deputy Tourism Minister on March 18, 2008. However, he relinquished his position just after a year on Dec 14, 2009.

Mambong MP Datuk Dr James Dawos took over as Deputy Tourism Minister and has been serving since. 

No official reason has ever been given for Sulaiman’s short-lived career as a minister.

More recently, Sulaiman’s older brother Datuk Seri Mahmud Abu Bekir Taib has been hotly tipped to replace him in the general election for the same constituency.

Karim was speaking to reporters yesterday after attending a memorandum of understanding signing ceremony between Sarawak Lawn Tennis Association and Merdeka Palace Hotel & Suites.