Karim: DAP still pushing ‘Go Rural’ campaign as it does not see its Pakatan partners are relevant

April 28, 2014

“It came up with its recent rhetoric that in the event DAP gets into power in Sarawak, they will put a Dayak as CM… I thought DAP has always advocated good government, based on merits and justice. Has that been compromised just to please the Dayaks in their quest to win the hinterland?” -Tuan Haji Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah

SIBU: Rural folk are very comfortable and happy with the BN government which is doing its level best to fulfill the people’s needs.

State BN secretary-general Datuk Dr Stephen Rundi was reacting to state DAP chairman Chong Chieng Jen’s statement that they would continue pushing their ‘Impian Sarawak’ campaign to further penetrate the rural areas, even if the fledgling effort might not turn out to be fruitful in the coming election.

“I am sure by now they (DAP) are smart enough to know what kind of response they receive from rural people and we, rural people have learnt enough from their struggle since the early formation of Malaysia and would not want to undergo the same experience again as we are very comfortable with the present situation though we need to improve on some areas as we all aware of.

“And the BN government is trying its very best to fulfil the people’s needs, and changing the government is not the answer.

“We need a stable government to bring in more development and prosperity to the country,” said Dr Rundi, who is Assistant Minister of Public Utilities (Electricity and Telecommunications).

PBB supreme council member Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah said despite knowing that the fledgling effort of its ‘Impian Sarawak’ campaign was not gaining support, DAP was still pushing for its ‘Go Rural’ campaign as it did not see its Pakatan partners as relevant.

DAP had a big agenda in wanting to split the Bumiputera along racial and religious lines, noted Abdul Karim, who is Assistant Minister of Youth Development and Asajaya assemblyman.

Agriculture sector lucrative, youths told

April 27, 2014

KUCHING: Youths, especially those living in suburban areas, are encouraged to take advantage of the lucrative agriculture sector.

Communities living in suburban areas are also tend to have access to plots of lands that are family owned, thus giving prospective young farmers a head start to set up their own farms.

Assistant Minister for Youth Development (Urban Areas) Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah said taking up agriculture was a wise one as everyone needed food.

Agriculture sector lucrative, youths told

April 27, 2014

KUCHING: Youths, especially those living in suburban areas, are encouraged to take advantage of the lucrative agriculture sector.

Communities living in suburban areas are also tend to have access to plots of lands that are family owned, thus giving prospective young farmers a head start to set up their own farms.

Assistant Minister for Youth Development (Urban Areas) Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah said taking up agriculture was a wise one as everyone needed food.

Agriculture sector lucrative, youths told

April 27, 2014

KUCHING: Youths, especially those living in suburban areas, are encouraged to take advantage of the lucrative agriculture sector.

Communities living in suburban areas are also tend to have access to plots of lands that are family owned, thus giving prospective young farmers a head start to set up their own farms.

Assistant Minister for Youth Development (Urban Areas) Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah said taking up agriculture was a wise one as everyone needed food.

“Agriculture should be taken advantage of by youths in the state,” said Abdul Karim when closing the ‘Agro Belia’ Seminar at the Youths and Sports Department Complex here yesterday.

He said the somewhat negative perception of farmers should be improved as farmers of today were raking in huge amount of money as compared to those in the old days.

The Asajaya assemblyman also noted that the agriculture sector in Kota Samarahan was thriving by the day, which is proven by the number of lorries going into the constituency to buy bulk agriculture products for the Kuching market.

“I know a few farmers who are selling fruits from their own garden and they are making at least RM3,000 to RM5,000 a month.”

Homemade shotguns: Abdul Karim calls for stern action

April 25, 2014

KUCHING: The authorities must be firm in handling the making and assembling of homemade shotguns and airguns.

In making the call, Assistant Minister of Youth Development Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah, said the police and prosecutors must be firm when addressing the issue.

“Looking at the number of homemade guns seized, which I hope is not the tip of an iceberg, the police and prosecutors must be firm on the matter,” he said in a text message received here yesterday.

He said this in response to the latest case reported in Miri where the police seized two homemade shotguns, two homemade airguns and two rounds of ammunition. The seizure was made following the arrest of two siblings, aged 22 and 40.

Karim said that firm action was necessary to prevent the matter getting out of hand.

He also said it was equally important that the public be properly informed that possessing unlicensed guns, even if they were homemade, was an offence.

Deputy Home Minister Datuk Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar, meanwhile, said homemade shotguns fell under artificial arms of the Arms Act 1960.

Sarawak bakal miliki lapangan memanah baharu

April 24, 2014

KUCHING: Sarawak bakal memiliki lapangan memanah baharu yang akan digunakan sebagai venue SUKMA ke-19 pada 2016.

Menteri Muda Pembangunan Belia Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah berkata cadangan membina lapangan baharu itu sedang berjalan dan hanya menunggu kelulusan daripada kerajaan negeri untuk memulakan kerja-kerja pembinaan.

“Kita bercadang untuk membina lapangan memanah baharu sebelum SUKMA 2016 berlangsung,” katanya semasa merasmikan Kejohanan Memanah Terbuka Sarawak ke-16 di SMK Tabuan Jaya semalam.

“Saya harap cadangan tersebut mendapat kelulusan dari kerajaan negeri memandangkan kita akan menjadi tuan rumah dan menyasarkan untuk menjadi juara keseluruhan pada SUKMA 2016 nanti.”

Karim yang juga Menteri Muda Perumahan berkata, lapangan baharu itu sangat penting bagi program pembangunan sukan memanah Sarawak.

“Dengan adanya lapangan memanah baharu, Sarawak dapat melahirkan lebih ramai atlet baharu yang dapat membantu mengharumkan nama negeri di kejohanan peringkat kebangsaan mahupun antarabangsa.”

Beliau turut merakamkan penghargaan kepada penganjur kejohanan, Persatuan Memanah Negeri Sarawak (Pemasa) yang sentiasa aktif dalam memastikan kejohanan tahunan itu diteruskan.

Archery centre up in Petra Jaya soon

April 24, 2014

KUCHING: Sarawak will have its own dedicated archery centre here soon in Petra Jaya.

The assurance came from Assistant Minister of Youth Development Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah.

“I have presented the suggestion to the state cabinet and so far the response has been positive. The state needs at least one dedicated archery centre here for our state archers to train at,” he added.

As Sarawak will host Sukma in 2016, he said, it is only appropiate that one be built here soon for the occasion.

Most archery competitions and training are presently conducted on football fields and places with wide open space.

Karim noted that archery has a significant following throughout the state, with clubs and tournaments organised all over the state, all year round.

Therefore, he felt that the state should take this opportunity to develop the sport to become a national powerhouse.

Karim: Fong must rid himself of DAP’s racist undertone if he wants to support BN

April 17, 2014

“We will support him if he does. If he thinks of being with BN as a temporary vehicle to ‘park’ himself…he is not welcome.” Tuan Haji Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah

SIBU: The top leadership of Barisan Nasional (BN) will have the final say on those wanting to join them as members, says its state (BN) secretary-general Datuk Dr Stephen Rundi.

He said BN generally welcomed someone with integrity and serious about serving the people.

Dr Rundi, who is Assistant Minister of Public Utilities (Electricity and Telecommunications), was asked to comment on news report that party-less Pujut assemblyman Fong Pau Teck had not discounted the possibility of joining BN.

Fong, who was shown the door by DAP, reportedly said he would consider joining one of the BN component parties in Sarawak if its policies were fair to the people, particularly when it came to Chinese-medium schools.

Dr Rundi said: “It is not for him to decide but we (BN) will, and we will accept someone who plays by the rule and with high integrity.

“We want someone who is loyal to Sarawak and willing to protect the rights of Sarawakians and Malaysians as a whole and serious about serving the people. Not someone who is into rhetoric politics like many peninsula-based politicians are inclined to do.

Meanwhile, PBB supreme council member Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah said BN welcomed anyone who wanted to support them.

“Supporting BN can be done by joining a BN party or supporting it from the outside…openly supporting its leadership and policies.”

Abdul Karim, who is Assistant Minister of Youth Development and Asajaya assemblyman, said no condition had to be set.

“As it is, BN is already the government of the day in Sarawak. the people has given the mandate to BN to govern Sarawak.

“Those who won seats under the opposition ticket and now realise that the BN government is fair are welcome to support it,” he said.

He said fairness need not only relate to the preservation of Chinese education and Chinese culture but encompassing all aspects.

He noted that Fong had a problem in DAP and was sacked.

Fong must rid himself of DAP’s racist undertone if he wanted to support BN, Abdul Karim suggested.

“If I read it correctly, he did mention that he might consider joining BN if BN was fair in respect to helping Chinese schools and cultures….my question….Has Malaysia and BN not been helping these institutions? No need to look far.

“Compare Malaysia’s policy on education with our Asean neighbours.”

He noted that Fong still had strong traits of DAP mentality in him, and advised him to rid that mentality.

“We will support him if he does. If he thinks of being with BN as a temporary vehicle to ‘park’ himself…he is not welcome,” Abdul Karim said.

  

Karim told See to tell DAP not to be racialist and chauvinist

April 13, 2014

KUCHING: Assistant Minister of Youth Development Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah said Barisan Nasional (BN) has never practised racial profiling as alleged by the opposition.

“BN has never practised racial profiling and has never neglected its responsibility towards any race although it is seen that a certain race has not supported BN, as seen in the last general election and state election,” he told thesundaypost.

Abdul Karim, who is also Assistant Minister of Housing and PBB supreme council member, was commenting on Batu Lintang assemblyman See Chee How’s call for Chief Minister Tan Sri Datuk Amar Adenan Satem to guard against racial profiling as practised by BN in Peninsular Malaysia.

“YB See need not have to tell or advise our chief minister on this but instead should tell its partner in Pakatan Rakyat (PR), the DAP, not to be racialist and chauvinist.

“Our new chief minister has declared that he is the chief minister for all Sarawakians and not just the Malays or Dayaks only,” Abdul Karim, who is also Asajaya assemblyman, said.

He said it is unfair for See, who is PKR Sarawak vice chairman, to insinuate that Adenan is practising racial profiling when he has just held the post as chief minister for a couple of months.

“If YB See cares to study past and present statements of BN leaders, all are narrowed to preserving unity and harmony of the multi ethnic races in Sarawak irrespective of religion and race.”

Karim: Be proactive in seeking aid

April 13, 2014

Abdul Karim (centre) emphasises a point during the event. Haris is at left. — Photo by Jeffery Mostapa

KUCHING: Youth organisations in the state have been asked to move beyond merely writing letters to request for aid.

Assistant Minister of Youth Development (Urban) Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah said the organisations should go the extra mile as there are several private or government agencies willing to provide funds for youth development programmes.

“Please refrain from writing in a letter asking for financial aid. Instead, come forward and meet these agencies face-to-face to seek their support in person,” he said when launching the state-level Youth Consultative Council 2014 yesterday.

He said those with funding would be more inclined to provide full or partial financial support following such meetings as they reflect the commitment and perseverance of the youth organisation.

According to Abdul Karim, philanthropists would also want to support solid youth development programmes.

“It is a philosophy that the youth of a nation reflects the nation’s future,” he said.

Abdul Karim also emphasised the need for youth bodies to keep up with current trends to avoid any interest mismatch.

Galeri: Launching the Baram Regatta 2014 logo

April 11, 2014

Datuk Amar Abang Johari Tun Openg (fifth left) launching the Baram Regatta 2014 logo at the ‘kick-off’ as Datuk Sylvester Entri (right) and (from left) Richard Wil Uban, Abu Seman Jahwie, Dennis Ngau (background) and Datuk Abdul Karim Hamzah applaud.

Galeri: Baram Regatta 2014 kicked off

April 10, 2014

Datuk Amar Abang Johari Tun Openg flagging off the Pump Boat Racing Open Category, as Datuk Sylvester Entri and others applaud.

Karim bidas pembangkang bantah GST

April 10, 2014

KUCHING: Menteri Muda Pembangunan Belia Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah membidas sikap ahli parti-parti pembangkang yang membantah pelaksanaan Cukai Barangan dan Perkhidmatan (GST) baru-baru ini.

Bantahan itu diadakan pada 7 April ketika Dewan Rakyat meluluskan Rang Undang-undang GST yang menyaksikan ahli-ahli Parlimen pembangkang membawa sepanduk membantah.

“Penerimaan dan penggunaan GST di 160 negara di dunia adalah manifestasi bahawa sistem ini adalah yang terbaik.

“Saya hairan mengapa Pakatan Rakyat membantah tanpa melakukan penyelidikan terperinci kebaikan dan keburukan sesuatu sistem baharu,” katanya ketika diminta mengulas mengenai reaksi ahli-ahli parti pembangkang.

Perdana Menteri Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak semasa membentangkan Belanjawan 2014 menyatakan bahawa GST akan dilaksanakan pada April 2015 dengan pengenalan caj sebanyak enam peratus menggantikan Cukai Jualan dan Perkhidmatan.

Abdul Karim berkata lagi, kerajaan mengakui pada peringkat awal pelaksanaan kelak mungkin akan ada banyak kekeliruan dan mungkin ada pekedai yang akan mencuba mengambil kesempatan untuk menaikkan harga atas alasan membayar cukai GST.

“Tapi kalau kita selidik secara mendalam pada masa sekarang pun pekedai perlu bayar cukai yang melebihi jumlah enam peratus dan kalau mengikut kiraan normal, harga barangan sepatutnya menurun dengan kaedah cukai GST ini,” ujarnya.

Galeri: Penyerahan Bendera Sarawak Kepada SUKMA Sarawak

April 5, 2014

SELAMAT BERJUANG: Datuk Lee Kim Shin (empat kiri) menerima bendera kontinjen daripada atlet angkat berat, Jelinie Empera sambil disaksikan Abdul Haris Ishak (kiri), Affandi Keli, Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah, Datuk Dr Stephen Rundi, Lucas Kalang dan Dr Ong Kong Swee di Dewan Suarah Kuching semalam.

Politicians shoot down ‘Vote along racial line’ suggestion

April 4, 2014 

"I think he (Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim) has deviated away from democracy and the freedom for one to make own choice." -Tuan Haji Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah

KUCHING: It appears that the suggestion by Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim for Malaysians to vote along racial lines is not well received by Sarawakian politicians.

Land Development Minister Tan Sri Datuk Amar Dr James Masing, when asked to respond to Shahidan’s proposal, said if the government were to adopt the process, it would create more harm than good.

“I don’t agree with the suggestion to vote along racial lines because it will create racial segregation in a society. It creates more problems than solving them,” Masing who is a leader known to be the defender of Sarawakians’ rights told The Borneo Post yesterday.

Shahidan, who is also Arau MP and minister in charge of the Election Commission, was recently quoted as

saying that voting along racial lines will resolve every racial conflict in the country. This proposal was supported by Kinabatangan MP Datuk Bung Mokhtar Radin.

In dismissing the suggestion, Masing, who is also Baleh assemblyman, said the ability of a person must be the only criterion for electing a leader, adding that voters must be racially and religiously blind when electing their leaders.

Assistant Minister of Youth Development Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah said the idea of voting along racial line definitely would not be good for Malaysia and Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak’s 1Malaysia.

Pemujur BN maya PRK Balingian ukai penetap

April 2, 2014

KUCHING: Berindik ari pemujur pengari Barisan Nasional (BN) maya Pengawa Bepilih Mit (PRK) di Balingian kena 29 March tu tadi, mayuh raban politik melabaka Kepala Menteri, Tan Sri Datuk Amar Adenan Satem nyangka deka ngenetapka Pengawa Bepilih Besai nengeri (PRN) diatur tumu.

Mandal Menteri Pemansang Nembiak Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah, lebuh dikerandau madah, pemujur BN ba PRK di Balingian nya ukai reti PRN patut diatur tumu ari pematut.

Abdul Karim ke mega Mandal Menteri Pengawa Berumah nadai sekali mikir pengawa bepilih nya patut diatur tumu bepelasarka timpuh Kunsil Nengeri (DUN) deka abis kena 20 Jun 2016.

“Nadai guna masau hari berundingka mayuh kelikuh politik. Enti ditanya raban penyakal, tentu sida dekaka pengawa bepilih diatur tumu laban sida nadai pengawa bukai dikereja. Lain mih BN, pengudah menang sida berundingka peneka rayat. Tembu timpuh DUN baru kitai berundingka pengawa bepilih baru,” ku Kaban Kunsil Nengeri (ADUN) Asajaya nya.

ADUN Balingian ke baru menang maya PRK tu tadi, Yussibnosh Balo nengah pengelui 6,911 undi ngalahka pengari PKR Abdul Jalil Bujang.

ADUN Kota Sentosa Chong Chieng Jen, bela sepenemu madah, PRN enda deka diatur tumu taja pan maya PRK tu tadi, BN menang nengah majoriti undi ti besai, undi ulih PR mega nambah.

Chong ke mega MP Bandar Kuching bela melaba, PRN nyangka deka diatur taun baru tu ila sebedau bejalaika chukai barang enggau servis (GST) ti deka berengkah kena 1 April 2015.

Karim: Chong, how many Dayaks in DAP National CWC?

April 1, 2014

SIBU: DAP nominating a Dayak as chief minister if the opposition front Pakatan Rakyat wins the next state election and form the state government is another rhetoric publicity stunt to PBB supreme council member Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah.

He said yesterday the publicity stunt by DAP and its Sarawak chairman Chong Chieng Jen was aimed at deceiving Sarawak natives and Bumiputras.

He said DAP was hoping the assurance could lead to the Dayak supporting them.

He was reacting to Chong’s statement that the party had reached a unanimous decision on appointing a Dayak as the chief minister if Pakatan were to win the next state election and form the state government.

“I wish to ask Yb Chong…since when has DAP been fighting for the Dayaks? How many Dayak majority seats have they ever contested?

“How many Dayaks do they have in their National and State Central Working Committee or CWC?

“DAP has never been sincere to the Bumis whether they are Dayaks or Malays. How are they going to put a Dayak as a CM when the likelihood of DAP winning a Dayak seat is practically nil?

Karim- Oppositions always want early election coz they don't have anything else to do

April 1, 2014

“Why waste our time with too much politicking? If you ask the opposition, of course they want an early election." -Tuan Haji Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah

KUCHING: Politicians from both sides of the political divide have mixed views on whether Chief Minister Tan Sri Datuk Amar Adenan Satem would call for an early state election following a landslide victory scored by Barisan Nasional (BN) in the recent Balingian by-election.

Assistant Minister of Youth Development Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah, when contacted said the good election result scored by BN in Balingian did not necessarily mean that Adenan would call for an early state election.

Abdul Karim, who is Assistant Housing Minister, doubted there would be any snap polls as the term of the present State Legislative Assembly would expire on June 20, 2016.

“Why waste our time with too much politicking? If you ask the opposition, of course they want an early election.

“It is because they have nothing else better to do. For BN, upon winning, we have to address the Rakyat’s needs. When the term expires, then we call for a fresh election,” said the Asajaya assemblyman.

Yussibnosh Balo from BN won the by-election beating PKR candidate Abdul Jalil Bujang by 6,911 votes.

Kota Sentosa assemblyman Chong Chieng Jen, who shared the view that an early state election was unlikely to happen, said although BN won with a huge majority, the votes for Pakatan Rakyat also increased a lot.

Galeri: Cycle Fest

April 1, 2013

TAHNIAH: Datuk Lee Kim Shin menyampaikan hadiah kepada Fito Bakdo dari Team Corbusier A yang dinobatkan sebagai pemenang ‘Raja Pecut’. Turut kelihatan ialah Datuk Abdul Karim Rahmah Hamzah dan Ahli Parlimen Bandar Kuching Chong Chieng Jen.