Youth programmes not politically-motivated, says Karim

By SHARON LING sharonling@thestar.com.my

Monday November 21, 2011

KUCHING: Youth programmes organised by government agencies are not politically-motivated, Youth Development Assistant Minister Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah said.

He said it would be wrong to assume that the government organised youth programmes and activities with political gains in mind.

“Any government, be it Barisan Nasional or Pakatan Rakyat if they come into power, has a responsibility towards youth development.

“We don’t organise programmes based on politics but to develop the youths and bring our nation to higher levels. There are no political elements involved,” he told reporters at the Breakfree 2011 youth carnival at the Civic Centre here yesterday.

Good game: Karim (centre) congratulating the futsal team members who came third at

the Breakfree 2011 youth carnival in Kuching Sunday.

Karim also said the government did not neglect youths and teenagers but held activities for them all year round.

“In fact, since I became an assistant minister about a month ago, I have been attending many youth events,” he said.

He added that it was important for the government to develop youths not only in terms of human capital but also socially.

No political connections involved — Karim

November 19, 2011

MAKING IT CLEAR: Abdul Karim (right) pointing to a map as he exchanged opinions with Chong
(DAP-Kota Sentosa).

KUCHING: Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah (BN-Asajaya) yesterday denied that a land titled Lot 2678, which is under his name, was acquired through political connections.

He also denied that the land is not subject to Section 47 of the Land Code. Abdul Karim gave his explanation in the august house in response to an allegation hurled by Chong Chieng Jen (DAP-Kota sentosa) on Wednesday.

Chong, during his debate speech, had alleged the land, which was registered under Abdul Karim’s name, was “conspicuously” and “suspiciously” excluded from the area which is subject to Section 47.

“I do not deny that the land is registered under my name. I do not deny that the identification card number read in the august house is mine. However, I specifically deny ever using any influence or connections to make sure that the land is not subject to Section 47,” Abdul Karim explained.

He pointed out that the gazetted notification 1042, and the imposition of Section 47, was made on April 5, 1999, for the establishment of a secondary school.

“In 1999, I was still practising law and only became a political secretary in 2000. I stood for election in 2001,” he said.

Abdul Karim, who is also Assistant Minister of Youth Development, stressed that he bought the land in 2009, 10 years after the imposition of Section 47, and the Memorandum of Transfer was inked on June 20, 2009.

Karim saman Chong?

November 17, 2011

KUCHING: Abdul Karim Rah­man Hamzah (BN-Asajaya) tidak teragak-agak untuk mengambil tindakan mahkamah sekiranya Chong Chieng Jen (DAP-Kota Sentosa) terus melemparkan tuduhan tidak berasas kepadan­ya.

Beliau menjelaskan, tanah mi­liknya yang berdekatan dengan ta­pak membangunkan sesuatu projek di kawasan Siol Kandis, Petra Jaya itu terletak di luar kawasan yang termaktub dalam Seksyen 47.

“Tanah itu terkecuali daripada Seksyen 47 kerana posisinya me­mang tidak terletak dalam kawasan yang termaktub, bukannya atas kedudukan saya (dalam kera­jaan).

“Saya tidak tahu bagaimana be­liau (Chong) sampaikan perkara itu kepada orang lain, tetapi sekiranya beliau keterlaluan, saya rasa saya perlu mengambil tindakan undang-undang mengenai perkara ini,” katanya ketika ditemui pemberita selepas Persidangan Dewan Undangan Negeri, di sini, semalam.

Abdul Karim memberitahu, beliau juga tidak pernah menge­luarkan sebarang arahan agar tanahnya dikecualikan daripada Seksyen 47.

Katanya, keluarganya juga memiliki beberapa bidang tanah di kawasan tersebut yang sudah di­gunakan kerajaan untuk membina jalan dan diberi pampasan.

Terdahulu, suasana Persidangan DUN sesi petang semalam sedikit kecoh apabila Chong memperso­alkan mengapa sebahagian kecil dari kawasan tanah yang dipercayai untuk dibangunkan bagi membina Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Siol Kandis, Petra Jaya dikecua­likan.

Social problems among youth being looked into

November 16, 2011

THE government is taking several measures to curb social problems among youths.

They include police patrol at hotspots and tourist areas to increase security.

“Public security monitoring is also being strengthened with the installation of CCTVs in spots prone to crime, particularly snatch thefts.

“Integrated operations and raids are also being conducted by the police from time to time,” said Youth Development assistant minister Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah in his reply to Ranum Mina (Opar) at the DUN sitting yesterday.

Karim to resign?

November 14, 2011

KUCHING: The Sarawak Barisan Nasional backbencher’s club chairman Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah will resign from his position today.

Karim, 51, having been appointed to assistant ministerial portfolios, including Housing and Youth Development, is no longer qualified to lead the group of non-ministers.

Karim said his replacement had been identified but declined to name the person.

“I believe he’s very capable,” Karim told reporters yesterday following a Barisan pre-State Legislative Assembly meeting at the PBB headquarters here.

“We’ll leave the announcement for tomorrow (today),” he said.

Pressed further, he said: “What can I say? Well, he is still new, but he should be capable enough to handle it. This is an important position in the Assembly.”

Asked what gave the replacement the upper hand against the other Barisan assemblymen, Karim said that various factors including academic qualifications and career achievements prior to his entering into politics were considered.

‘Healthy’ 2012 State Budget to be presented

November 14, 2011

“The most important thing is the new chairman has good academic and career background".

-Tuan Haji Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah 

KUCHING: The 2012 State Budget will be a ‘healthy’ one in relation to the global economy and development in Sarawak.

Chief Minister Pehin Sri Haji Abdul Taib Mahmud said the 2012 State Budget would be considered a safe and healthy budget that had been realistically planned to stimulate economic activities in Sarawak to sustain economic growth.

According to Taib, apart from outlining the efforts to intensify the state economy next year, the 2012 State Budget has also taken into account the present ‘dull’ global economic scenario.

“Although we (state government) know that the world economic situation is not ‘healthy’, we believe we will be able to get through this with success.

This is because the economies of China and India have shown positive growth.

“And with our position being located in Southeast Asia, I think there will be no problem for us to ensure that Sarawak economic growth will be on track,” said Taib, who is also Minister of Finance, to the media after chairing a precouncil meeting at Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) headquarters here yesterday.

The Chief Minister i s scheduled to table the 2012 State Budget during the second meeting of the 17th State Legislative Assembly (DUN) sitting, which starts today till 23 November.

DAP don't have any love for Bumiputeras -Karim

by Jocob Achoi

November 11, 2011, Friday

KUCHING: Opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim was just trying to cool the situation down when he said Pakatan Rakyat (PR) had scrapped its intention to reduce the number of civil servants if it ruled the country.

Assistant Minister of Youth Development and Assistant Minister of Housing Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah said civil servants were very angry with the proposal by DAP publicity secretary Tony Pua, and Anwar was just trying to cool them down.

“When he (Anwar) disagreed with the proposal, it is just to cool down the anger of the civil servants towards DAP and PR,” Abdul Karim said when contacted yesterday.

He was asked on Anwar’s online comment on Tuesday that PR had scrapped the proposal to reduce the number of the 1.2 million civil servants if it wins the general election, as earlier proposed by Pua.

Abdul Karim, who is chief political secretary to the Chief Minister, said DAP’s contention to reduce  the number of civil servants was an insult to all civil servants, be they at the federal or state levels.

The proposal, Abdul Karim said, also reflected how ignorant DAP was about the role of the civil servants in transforming the country to become vibrant.

“Bumiputeras in the civil service should be able to see DAP’s real agenda. They just don’t have any love for the Bumiputeras,” the Asajaya assemblyman said.

Beatrice’s life could depend on mens rea — Karim

November 10, 2011

KUCHING: It is difficult to determine the ‘intention’ of Beatrice Laus Johie when she carried the bag containing heroin into Melbourne airport, opined Assistant Minister of Youth Development Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah yesterday.

Abdul Karim, who is a lawyer by training, said the burden of proof had to be produced by the Australian police to show that Beatrice was aware of the 1.5kg of heroin inside the bag she was carrying.

“At this point in time, the investigation has to prove that there was no mens rea (an intention of the mind) from Beatrice, to help her to get acquitted,” he said.

He was asked to comment on Beatrice who was nabbed with 1.5kg of heroin at Melbourne International Airport last Sunday afternoon. She was said to have been deceived by her Nigerian boyfriend to carry his luggage which contained the drugs. The Nigerian, whom she had befriended through Facebook, was supposed to travel with her but he did not make the trip at the last moment – claiming visa problems.

If found guilty, Beatrice will face 25 years’ imprisonment or A$550,000 fine.

Abdul Karim said the interrogation period would involve a lot of legal procedures.

“This is one of the hardest parts (interrogation and legal procedures) that a person must go through. I pity her as a person, but there is no way through this except to seek help from the government,” he said.
  

Abdul Karim: Kita just day-dreaming

by Zoee Hilson. 

Posted on November 7, 2011, Monday

BAU: Parti Kita (Kesejahteraan Insan Tanah Air) will not win even a single seat, what more to say becoming a ruling party, during the next general election.

Assistant Minister for Youth Development Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah, who gave this prediction, said Kita president Datuk Zaid Ibrahim must be daydreaming for saying on Friday that the party aimed to be a ruling party.

Karim added that as far as Sarawak was concerned, the party is an unknown entity.

“Maybe in Peninsular Malaysia there are members of Kita which is a splinter of PKR, but I doubt that it can capture any seat, or even one seat. This is just daydreaming. I would say their impact is totally zero. We don’t even know who the leaders of Kita are in Sarawak,” he said at a Hari Raya Aidiladha event at Surau Nur Akmal in Kampung Blimbin, Bau, yesterday.

Karim, who is also Asajaya assemblyman and chief political secretary to the chief minister, added that presently the party did not have a single assemblyman, so their dream was really something “too farfetched”.

In a news report by Bernama yesterday, Zaid said that the party was not after the prime minister’s post and that they were not a nuisance as labelled by some quarters.

Claiming that Kita was the best alternative political party for the people because it fought for the welfare of Malaysias, Zaid said: “We aim to be a ruling party but we are not after the prime minister’s post…this is why we hope to put up candidates in suitable areas to ensure victory in the elections.”

Perkim Sarawak brings cheer to 50 families

By RINTOS MAIL

rintos@thestar.com.my

Monday November 7, 2011

KUCHING: Muslim Welfare Organisation Malaysia (Perkim) Sarawak Branch has brought cheers to some 50 families at Kampung Belimbing, Krokong in Bau near here in conjunction with this year’s Hari Raya Qurban.

Four cows were donated but only three slaughtered after one ran away in the nick of time.

The three were slaughtered early in the morning.

The one which escaped was supposed to be slaughtered during an official ceremony to distribute the sacrificial meat to the needy families from the village and the surrounding areas after the afternoon prayer yesterday.

Housing Assistant Minister Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah officiated at the ceremony.

The function, nevertheless went on to distribute meat from the three slaughtered earlier.

Speaking to reporters later, Abdul Karim said this year’s Perkim religious activity was centred in Bau.

Karim to resign as state BN backbencher’s club chief

Monday November 14, 2011

KUCHING: The Sarawak Barisan Nasional backbencher’s club chairman Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah will resign from his position today.

Karim, 51, having been appointed to assistant ministerial portfolios, including Housing and Youth Development, is no longer qualified to lead the group of non-ministers.

Karim said his replacement had been identified but declined to name the person.

“I believe he’s very capable,” Karim told reporters yesterday following a Barisan pre-State Legislative Assembly meeting at the PBB headquarters here.

“We’ll leave the announcement for tomorrow (today),” he said.

Pressed further, he said: “What can I say? Well, he is still new, but he should be capable enough to handle it. This is an important position in the Assembly.”

Asked what gave the replacement the upper hand against the other Barisan assemblymen, Karim said that various factors including academic qualifications and career achievements prior to his entering into politics were considered.

Hamil luar nikah serius

November 2, 2011

Statistik meningkat, kebanyakan ‘keterlanjuran’ berlaku musim cuti sekolah

KUCHING: Peningkatan ketara jumlah penghuni Taman Seri Puteri, di sini pada tahun ini berbanding 2010 mencerminkan kes hamil luar nikah di kalangan remaja di Sarawak semakin membimbangkan.

Menteri Kebajikan, Wanita dan Pembangunan Keluarga Datuk Fatimah Abdullah memberitahu, institusi yang bertujuan melindungi dan menjaga gadis hamil seawal umur 14 tahun hingga 18 tahun itu mencatatkan jumlah penghuni sebanyak 20 orang setakat ini berbanding sembilan orang pada 2010.

“Waktu saya mula melawat dulu kita ada empat orang. Dan apa yang kita ada dalam rekod ini hanya ‘tip of an iceberg,’ nampak sedikit tetapi bahagian yang tidak kelihatan itu sebenarnya lebih banyak.

“Kalau statistik sudah menyaksikan peningkatan, apatah lagi jumlah kes yang tidak dilaporkan kepada agensi-agensi kerajaan dan di luar pengetahuan kita,” katanya kepada pemberita selepas Majlis Perasmian Bengkel Latihan Pelatih Hubungan Sihat Dalam Kalangan Remaja, di sini, semalam.

Hadir sama, Menteri Muda Pembangunan Sosial Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah, Men-teri Muda Kebajikan Robert Lawson Chuat dan Pengarah Jabatan Kebajikan Masyarakat Negeri Noriah Ahmad.

Fatimah memberitahu, kadar kelahiran bayi oleh remaja di negeri ini turut menyaksikan peningkatan iaitu daripada 7.16 peratus pada 2009 kepada 8.8 peratus pada 2010.

Dalam pada itu, beliau mencadangkan agar taklimat mengenai hubungan sihat di kalangan remaja diadakan sebelum cuti persekolahan.