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.

On whether the new chairman was vocal, Karim said: “Given the mandate, he will be.”

He also described the replacement as someone “who will shine”.

State Legislative Assembly Speaker Datuk Seri Mohd Asfia Awang Nassar was just as tight-lipped on the matter.

“I really don’t think I’m in a position to disclose the information,” Asfia told reporters.

“What will happen is that, during the sitting, Karim will convene a meeting with the backbenchers to finalise the appointment,” Asfia said.

Whoever takes over as club chairman will be responsible for guiding the 28 other Barisan elected representatives in the Assembly.

The backbenchers are elected representatives who do not sit in the Cabinet.

All together, there are 71 assemblymen of whom 15 are from the Opposition.

The club chairman is responsible only for the Barisan backbenchers.

Contrary to popular belief, the state backbenchers club is not a registered society.

Karim has described it as an in-house society like a class unit that has a monitor.

He said yesterday that the chairman’s role was to explain the state’s policies to the Barisan backbenchers.

“The job requires the chairman to lead the backbenchers so that the state’s policies are not run down by the Opposition.

“That’s how I see it. Also, it is to prepare on-the-ground programmes and link up with other national bodies. Right now, we have very good links with them,” he added.