Sarawak needs more allocation for sports from Budget 2013

September 30, 2012

"Sarawak which is still in dire need of much development fund must be given what is due." -Tuan Haji Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah

KUCHING: State Assistant Minister of Sports Datuk Lee Kim Shin hopes that the federal government will give reasonable amount of allocation from the 2013 Budget to help development of sports in Sarawak.

He pointed out that Sarawak have produced among the best athletes in the country. Lee hence insists that sports development in the state must be given serious consideration.

“The 2013 Budget shows that our government acknowledged the importance of sports in the country. They really want sports to grow vigorously,” Lee said.

Lee also hoped that the budget will help the state in building more sports facilities and infrastructures in the state.

“Sarawak must be on par with other the states when it comes to sports facilities.”

Meanwhile Assistant Minister of Youth Development and Housing Abdul Karim Hamzah pointed out that Sarawak is the biggest state in Malaysia hence the need for more allocation from the budget from the federal government.

In turn it will also good for Malaysia as Sarawak has proven to be one of the states that produce world class athletes for the country.

Galeri: A Dialog With Bloggers

September 28, 2012



RARE OPPORTUNITY: Taib (seated centre) is seen with the youths during a photo call after the dialogue. Seated from left are Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah, event organising chairman Datuk Patrick Liew, Datuk Dr Stephen Rundi and Datu Aloysius Dris.

Samarahan pilihan juara Piala Sarawak 2012

September 28, 2012

UNTUK PBBS: Abdul Karim (tiga kiri) menyampaikan sumbangan kepada Haidel sambil diperhatikan oleh Aidel (dua kiri).

KUCHING: Dua puluh lima pemain bola sepak Samarahan bakal menggalas cabaran getir dalam misi menjulang Piala Sarawak 2012 apabila kejohanan berprestij tersebut bermula Isnin depan di Miri.

Pasukan yang dibimbing oleh Awang Jobli Awang Bidin dan dibantu bekas pe­main Sarawak Ideris Untong pastinya mahu mengulangi kejayaan yang pernah dicapai pada 2008.

Presiden Persatuan Bola Sepak Bahagian Samarahan (PBBS), Haidel Heli berkata pasukannya lebih mantap kali ini dengan dibarisi hampir separuh muka-muka baru yang dipilih dari beberapa bahagian negeri.

“Saya meletakkan harapan yang tinggi terhadap pasukan ini untuk muncul juara Piala Sarawak 2012 dan ia pasti ter­capai sekiranya semua pemain memberikan komitmen serta persembahan yang berkuali­ti,” katanya.

“Kita telah mengharungi banyak latihan intensif serta beberapa siri perlawanan persahabatan untuk meman­tapkan pasukan. Justeru, tidak mustahil Samarahan muncul juara pada edisi kali ini.”

Beliau berkata demikian semasa majlis makan malam bersama pasukan yang turut dihadiri oleh Menteri Muda Pembangunan Belia, Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah, ADUN Sadong Jaya, Aidel Lariwoo, Residen Bahagian Samarahan Ismail Hasni, Kapten Kelab Golf Sarawak (KGS) Abdul Jalil Abdul Rah­man dan Timbalan Presiden PBBS Ismawi Muhammad kelmarin.

Menurutnya lagi, Samara­han adalah pasukan pilihan untuk muncul setelah kehad­iran semula jurulatih Awang Jobli yang pernah membawa pasukan tersebut menjadi juara pada edisi 2008.

Galeri: Launching of ouryouth.my portal

September 27, 2012

FOR THE NEW GENERATION: Chief Minister Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud launches the ouryouth.my portal on Tuesday. Also seen is Sarawak Lawn Tennis Association (SLTA) and Sarawak Marathon Association (SMA) president Dato Patrick Liew (right) and state Assistant Minister of Youth and Housing Abdul Karim Hamzah (second left). — Photo by Muhd Rais Sanusi

ouryouth.my

SUPP can count on BN partners for support, says Abdul Karim

September 26, 2012

SIBU: Sarawak United People’s Party (SUPP) can count on its BN coalition partners for support as they are always there to help, says a PBB supreme council member Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah.

He said they were not there to bring down the party but to strengthen the coalition.

“BN component parties are always there to help and not to destroy you,” he said in response to a claim that several SUPP central committee (CC) members had moved a motion to review the party’s membership in the state BN.

The source was quoted as saying that the motion was moved because many members felt that SUPP was not respected as a state BN component party.

The party insider also claimed that it made no difference whether they were with BN or outside BN since they had not been fairly treated.

Abdul Karim, who is Asajaya assemblyman and Assistant Minister of Youth Development, said: “If there is any party that you need to blame for your misery…it is DAP and other opposition parties”.

He reckoned playing the ‘blame game’ would not bring the party anywhere nor would it influence the swing of Chinese voters to their side.

Town to see more progress

September 19, 2012

KOTA SAMARAHAN: The predominantly Bumiputra-populated Kota Samarahan will see more development in the near future.

Assistant Youth and Housing Minister Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah said looking at the rapid development of the town, particularly Taman Desa Ilmu with its rising population, the state government would look into further developing the area.

“This (Taman Desa Ilmu) being an education hub, there will be a lot of students here also with various needs.

“That is why businesses, population and other economic activities here are booming, which in turn improves the socio-economic status of this place, which once were only pockets of small and remote villages,” said Karim during a Hari Raya celebration organised by Taman Desa Ilmu Development and Security Committee (JKKK) and Sarawak Bumiputra Chamber of Commerce (DUBS) Kota Samarahan branch on Monday.

With this in mind, Karim said in his capacity as an assistant minister, he would forward to the government the current needs of Taman Desa Ilmu folk, namely a multi-purpose hall, a police station and a futsal court there.

The proposal was highlighted by Taman Desa Ilmu JKKK chairman and the event’s organising chairman Abang Ideris Abang Jemali earlier in his welcoming speech.

Ideris said there was a need to build a multi-purpose hall to hold events such as the Raya celebration itself, which was held in the parking lot of a shoplot.

‘Don’t stir up East vs Semenanjung sentiments’

Posted on September 19, 2012, Wednesday

PR leaders should ‘grow up’ and learn to appreciate that without Malaysia, Sarawak and Sabah would not have developed into what they were today.

SIBU: Pakatan Rakyat (PR) should not sow the seed of discontent, ‘fertilising’ it through the Kuching Declaration that could stir up sentiments of ‘East vs Semenanjung’, said SUPP Sibu vice-chairman Daniel Ngieng.

Warning them of the impending backlash through their pursuit of such political gimmick, he stressed that national solidarity and goodwill must be built on understanding and mutual respect.

“Why the Kuching Declaration now? They want to stir up sentiments of ‘East vs Semenanjung’, and thereafter hope to ride on it to derail BN support in the two states.

“You see, national solidarity and goodwill must be built on understanding and mutual respect,” he said in response to PR’s claim to champion the rights of Sarawak and Sabah.

Last Sunday, national and state leaders of PR signed the Kuching Declaration, pledging to restore Sarawak and Sabah as equal partners of Peninsular Malaysia if they (PR) form the next government.

The declaration which contained seven articles was signed by PKR de facto leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, DAP advisor Lim Kit Siang, PAS president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang, Sarawak PKR chief Baru Bian, Sarawak DAP chairman Wong Ho Leng and PAS Sarawak commissioner Adam Ahid.

The articles include equal partners (restoring autonomy to Sarawak and Sabah within the framework of the Federal Constitution).

Ngieng responded: “We here enjoy autonomous rights like immigration which BN upholds. Both PAS and DAP leaders have criticised it and called for abolition of our state rights.”

It was ironic how now PR issued the Kuching Declaration with one singing this and promising that.

It was just opportunistic on the part of the opposition, Ngieng commented.

He asked: “Could you trust someone like Anwar to defend your rights?”

When contacted, Asajaya assemblyman Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah said: “PR should not have sown the seed of discontent on the day we celebrate our state’s independence and on the day we celebrate Malaysia Day.
   

Prasarana, keselamatan Samarahan akan diperkasa

September 19, 2012

SAMARAHAN: Kerajaan akan terus memantapkan kemudahan sama ada dari segi prasarana mahupun keselamatan di Daerah Samarahan yang mana populasinya semakin meningkat ekoran pembangunan pesat membabitkan taman-taman perumahan.

Menteri Muda Perumahan Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah berkata, kini terdapat lebih 8,000 buah rumah di taman-taman perumahan di Samarahan dengan kebanyakan penduduk yang mendiami kawa-san tersebut merupakan golo-ngan muda dan profesional.

“Kita akan lihat kekurangannya supaya masyarakat men-dapat keselesaan.

“Inilah keadaan yang kita mahu lihat,” katanya berucap pada Majlis Ramah-tamah Aidilfitri Malaysia Raya 2012 anjuran bersama Dewan Usahawan Bumiputera Sarawak (DUBS) Cawangan Samarahan dan Jawatankuasa Kemajuan dan Keselamatan Kampung (JKKK) Taman Desa Ilmu, Samarahan di sini, malam kelmarin bagi mewakili Menteri Perancangan Sumber dan Alam Sekitar Kedua Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan.

Sehubungan itu, Karim yang juga Menteri Muda Belia me-nyarankan para pemimpin di peringkat taman perumahan agar melihat dan merancang keperluan kemudahan di kawasan masing-masing.

Terdahulu, Pengerusi JKKK Taman Desa Ilmu Abg Ideris Abg Jemali menyuarakan keperluan kemudahan bagi kawasan itu seperti sekolah rendah, gelanggang futsal dan pondok polis kerana bilangan penduduknya yang semakin bertambah.

“Sebuah sekolah rendah perlu diwujudkan di Desa Ilmu bagi menampung jumlah kanak-kanak yang semakin bertambah, di mana sekarang ibu bapa perlu menghantar anak-anak ke sekolah yang terletak agak jauh dari rumah mereka.

Karim: Turning Sept 16 into a political event disgusting

September 15, 2012

SIBU: Pakatan Rakyat (PR) will make a declaration on Sept 16, which state DAP secretary Chong Chieng Jen said would be historical and would give meaning to the Malaysia Day.

PR is not about to disclose the gist of the declaration, dubbed ‘The Kuching Declaration’.

Earlier press reports said the declaration would be signed by PKR de facto leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, DAP advisor Lim Kit Siang, PAS president Datuk Seri Hadi Awang, state PKR liaison chief Baru Bian, state DAP chairman Wong Ho Leng and Sarawak PAS commissioner Adam Ahid.

The declaration would be made during a gathering in Kuching.

Asajaya assemblyman Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah when contacted yesterday said he had no idea what the declaration was about.

“It does smell of some ‘political do’. If Pakatan plans to hijack this date for a political do, I can only say here that I am disgusted,” he said.

Added Karim: “They have brought themselves so low to the extent of playing politics with our Independence Day…a day which we should put aside politics to celebrate and be proud of what we have achieved as a Free Independent Nation.”

Galeri: Majlis Ramah Tamah Aidilfitri BERNAS 2012

September 15, 2012

FOR A GOOD CAUSE: Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hassan (fifth left) presents a cheque to a representative of the Methodist Children’s Home Sibu. Also seen from left are Assistant Minister of Youth Development Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah, Deputy Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation Datuk Fadillah Yusof, Beras Corporation Sdn Bhd chief executive officer Mohd Kamaluddin Mohd Effendie, Assistant Minister of Resource Planning Datuk Mohd Naroden Majais (centre) and Balai Ringin assemblyman Snowdan Lawan (third right). 

Galeri: Kuching Dictrict PDRM Hari Raya Open House

September 13, 2012

HAVE A TRY: Sarawak police commissioner Datuk Acryl Sani Abdullah Sani offering Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah one of many dishes available during the Hari Raya open house. Looking on are (from left) Sharifah Hasidah Sayeed Aman Ghazali, Kuching OCPD ACP Roslan Bek Ahmad and deputy OCPD Supt Pauzi Bujang.

Kuching Declaration nothing more than politicking for coming polls

Tuesday September 18, 2012

“I don’t know why they are raising the issue when we are celebrating the independence of our nation from colonial rule."

KUCHING: The Kuching Declaration unveiled by Pakatan Rakyat has been described as nothing more than politicking for the coming general election.

State Barisan Nasional secretary-general Datuk Dr Stephen Rundi said Pakatan was only emulating what the Barisan had been doing all along, therefore, the declaration was unnecessary.

“Barisan has its own vision and our record is proven in developing the state.

“The declaration is all about politicking and Pakatan is emulating what we have been doing,” he told The Star.

Pakatan signed the declaration in conjunction with the Malaysia Day celebration during a gathering at Chong Lin Park here two days ago.

The declaration seeks to honour the spirit of the Malaysia Agreement of 1963 and contains six articles on equal partnership, fair repre-sentation through fair power sharing arrangement and the setting up of a Royal Commission to solve the perennial problem of illegal immigrants and citizenship.

It also seeks to set up Land Commissions to investigate, resolve, redress, survey and restore the native customary rights over land, endorse the appointment of Sarawakians and Sabahans to head the government departments in the respective states and to give them priority at Federal Government level functioning within the two states and raise the royalties on petroleum and hydrocarbon resources to Sarawak and Sabah to 20% from the present 5%.

Galeri: Jas United juara Piala Perpaduan Sambir 2012

September 8, 2012

MILIK KAMI: Pasukan Jas United meraikan kejayaan merangkul juara Piala Perpaduan Sambir 2012 bersama Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah serta jawatankuasa penganjur di Sambir, baru-baru ini.

State ready to host National bike race

September 6, 2012

TICKET TO RIDE: Assistant Minister of Youth Development and Housing Abdul Karim Hamzah (right) with

other officials look at the National Grand Prix Championship 2012 poster yesterday.

KUCHING: The presence of strong teams from Indonesia and Brunei is expected to spice up the National GP (Sarawak Circuit) bicycle race which will be held here this Sept 22-23.

According to Assistant Minister of Youth Development and Housing Abdul Karim Hamzah, local racers can expect a tough challenge with the presence of cyclists from the two neighbouring countries.

“Although this race is a national race, the cyclists from the two countries have requested to participate in the race. They too want the competitive exposure and we are glad to have them participate in this event,” he told The Borneo Post yesterday.

Abdul Karim added that cyclists from Brunei and Indonesia, more specifically from West Kalimantan, are always active in joining races organised here in the state.

Their presence has always provided positive competition for the local racers.

“The Indonesians team are so good that some members of their team had represented their country in the Southeast Asian (SEA) games. They are indeed the real deal,” he revealed.

With current Sukma champions Terengganu confirming their participation for the race, the event will be a race to watch for all bicycle enthusiasts. A stiff competition for top spot is highly anticipated.

Lumba Basikal GP Kebangsaan Sirkit Sarawak tawar hadiah RM14,290

September 6, 2012

KUCHING: Lebih 150 pelumba basikal terbaik dari seluruh negara akan menyertai Kejohanan Lumba Basikal GP Kebangsaan Sirkit Sarawak 2012 di Jalan Politeknik/Matang pada 22 dan 23 September ini.

Kejohanan yang menawarkan hadiah berjumlah keseluruhan RM14,290 itu dianjur oleh Persatuan Berbasikal Negeri Sarawak (PBS) dengan kerjasama Persekutuan Kebangsaan Berbasikal Malaysia (PKBM) dan mendapat sokongan Kementerian Pembangunan Sosial (KPS).

Menteri Muda Pembangunan Belia Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah berkata sirkit di Sarawak adalah yang ketiga daripada lima sirkit selepas Kedah dan Kelantan.

Sirkit keempat akan diadakan di Perak pada November 2012 (200km) dan kelima di Melaka pada Disember 2012 (250km).

“Objektif utama kejohanan tersebut adalah meningkatkan mutu pelumba-pelumba kebangsaan di samping mencungkil bakat-bakat baharu dalam sukan kompetitif ini,” katanya semasa sidang media di Bangunan Baitul Makmur semalam.

Turut hadir ialah Setiausaha Tetap KPS Affandi Keli, Ketua Penolong Pengarah Bahagian Sukan KPS Mering Wan dan Setiausaha PBS Zulaihi Seri.

“Melalui kejohanan ini juga, kita dapat mengenal pasti pelumba-pelumba yang layak dan berpotensi untuk mewakili negara di peringkat antarabangsa.

Sistem tarikh tetap pilihan raya usaha pembangkang mengelirukan rakyat

September 6, 2012

KUCHING: Menteri Muda Pembangunan Belia (Bandar) Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah tidak percaya dengan pendapat pembangkang bahawa mereka akan mengadaptasi sistem tarikh tetap pilihan raya sekiranya mereka memerintah negara ini.

Sebaliknya beliau merasakan, niat pembangkang untuk membawa isu berkenaan adalah semata-mata untuk mengelirukan rakyat bahawa sistem pengundian sedia ada tidak bagus.

Bercakap pada satu sidang media di sini semalam, beliau tidak melihat ada sebarang keperluan untuk menukar sistem pilihan raya kerana ia telah diterima secara meluas dan tidak ada sebarang masalah dihadapi.

“Ia bukan sesuatu yang unik dan bukan negara kita sahaja yang mengamalkannya. Negara yang pernah dijajah England mengamalkan sistem yang sama.

“Mungkin pembangkang membuat cerita dengan menyatakan sistem itu tidak bagus. Jika mereka dalam kerajaan mereka juga akan melakukan perkara yang sama. Saya berasakan mereka tidak akan mahu berubah,” kata Menteri Muda Perumahan itu.

Abdul Karim menganggap sistem sekarang telah mengujakan lagi pilihan raya kerana: “Ia memberi banyak keterujaan apabila kita tidak diberi tarikh, semua spekulasi menjadikan momentum pilihan raya lebih menarik.”

Ahli Dewan Undangan Negari (ADUN) Asajaya itu berkata demikian bagi mengulas mengenai kenyataan Setiausaha Agung Parti Tindakan Demokratik (DAP) Lim Guan Eng baru-baru ini, bahawa beliau akan mencadangkan kepada Pakatan Rakyat (PR) untuk menetapkan tarikh pilihan raya, sekiranya mereka memerintah.

People are fed up with ‘coloured’ marches — Karim

September 2, 2012

SIBU: People are fed up with so called ‘coloured’ marches, having seen too many of them, armed with ill intention of running down the government and creating racial tension.

Assistant Minister of Youth Development Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah yesterday described the proposed green march by PAS as a mere political gimmick ‘copied’ from the neighbouring country.

“The proposed green march by PAS… this is just a political gimmick ‘copy cat’ from Thailand. We have too many of this ‘coloured’ march… Bersih using yellow, and then there is Lynas.

“Now, the ‘Green’ march! They are all the same… to continue building up discontentment, hoping some ‘havoc and rampage’ would happen during the marches where they could put the blame on the police and government,” he told thesundaypost via SMS.

He was asked to comment on the proposed PAS’s Green March (Rally) to Putrajaya (‘Himpunan Hijau ke Putrajaya’).

Abdul Karim, who is Asajaya assemblyman, added the opposition parties and opposition-controlled NGOs had evil intention of wanting to disunite the peace-loving multi ethnic communities in the country.