Happy New Year 2016

No quarter shown if PAS goes up against BN

December 27, 2015

Sibu: PBB Supreme Council member Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah welcomed PAS' decision to contest in more than 10 constituencies in the next state election.

He said Malaysia is a democratic country, therefore any registered political party could contest anywhere they wanted.

However, Abdul Karim didn't believe that PAS could do better because in the past it was defeated badly with almost all candidates losing their deposits.
 

Merry Christmas

Salam Maulidur Rasul

Galeri: Kenyalang Journalism Awards 2015

December 19, 2015 

Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Adenan Satem hands over the mock cheque to The Borneo Post journalist Phyllis Wong, with others looking on. 

Stick to CM’s decision on seats — Abd Karim

December 18, 2015

KUCHING: Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) supreme council member Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah says Barisan Nasional (BN) component parties must agree with Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Adenan Satem’s decision that only one BN candidate will be put up in each constituency in the coming state election.

Concurring with Adenan, Abdul Karim said the candidate would be the one endorsed by BN.

“BN component parties must agree to that and the final decision on who the candidates are rests on the chairman of state BN,” Abdul Karim wrote in his WhatsApp yesterday.

Go for drug kingpins, says Abdul Karim

December 18, 2015

Abdul Karim (second right) talks to an inmate at CRCC as Khalid (right) looks on.

KUCHING: Enforcement agencies should focus on bringing down drug kingpins selling their drugs to teenagers as they inflict damage on future generations of society.

Pointing this out, Youth Development Assistant Minister Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah said enforcement agencies should not be solely blamed for failing to stem drug abuse among youths.

“Parents, teachers, schools and the community should take part of this blame since the problem of youths is a problem for all,” Abdul Karim said when speaking at the Cure & Care Rehabilitation Centre (CRCC) Kuching Pre-Christmas celebration at the centre yesterday.

According to him, young drug addicts prefer synthetic drugs to the more potent drugs like morphine, heroin and opium which are declining in popularity.

“These synthetic drugs are more difficult to detect as they take the form of small tablets or pills that resemble prescription drugs,” he said.

He revealed that the number of registered inmates at CRCC statewide had dropped this year.

“A total of 862 CRCC inmates were registered in 2014, falling to 594 this year but we believe there are still many undetected drug users out there,” he said.

Galeri: DUN Sitting

December 17, 2015

Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Adenan Satem arriving at the State Legislative Assembly yesterday, accompanied by Housing Assistant Minister Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah.

‘They could have fixed another date to charge Chong’

December 16, 2015

SIBU: The prosecution, police and judiciary could have fixed another date to charge an assemblyman instead of when the State Legislative Assembly (DUN) sitting is in session.

Asajaya assemblyman Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah however said this was his personal view.

He was making reference to the media report saying Kota Sentosa assemblyman Chong Chieng Jen who is also Bandar Kuching MP and Stampin MP Julian Tan Kok Ping being charged on Monday with participating in the recent Bersih 4 street demonstration.

Abdul Karim, who is Assistant Minister of Social Development, said discretion should be used by the police and judiciary in situation like this.

“Due respect must be given to this assemblyman who is democratically elected by the people to represent them in the state assembly.

“By charging him when the assembly is in session has deprived him of his role as an assemblyman.

“We must understand that the three organs of government, the executives, the legislative and the judiciary must respect and not encroach into each other.

Usahawan perlukan ketabahan dan komitmen yang tinggi untuk berjaya

November 12, 2015

Datuk Abdul Karim Rahmah
Hamzah meneliti gegantung program

KOTA SAMARAHAN: Kerjaya sebagai usahawan adalah satu kerjaya yang memerlukan ketabahan dan komitment yang tinggi.

Menteri Muda Pembangunan Belia (Bandar) Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah berkata sedemikian ketika merasmikan Program OutReach Usahawan Belia di sini pada Jumaat malam lepas.

Pada masa yang sama, tegas Abdul Karim, usahawan memerlukan disiplin yang tinggi dalam menangani hal kewangan.

Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah diapit oleh
Dato Sri Mohamad Ali Mahmud dan Puan Rubiah
Wang

"Ada kita dengar usahawan-usahawan baru yang dapat kontrak (perniagaan) tetapi selepas setahun dua, disebabkan tiada kepakaran untuk mengurus kewangan, (perniagaan) habis di tengah jalan," kata beliau.

Sebahagian daripada hadirin

Beliau selanjutnya berkata usahawan-usahawan mesti menimba pengalaman yang secukupnya untuk terus berada dan berjaya dalam bidang perniagaan.

"Usahawan-usahawan baru mesti belajar banyak perkara.

"Perlu ada pengalaman dan juga (daya) ketahanan (yang tinggi) untuk terus berada dalam perniagaan," ujar beliau lagi.

Housing prices will keep soaring — Abdul Karim

December 11, 2015

Housing prices are expected to keep soaring despite the government’s continued efforts to strive for a balance between demand and supply by constructing more affordable houses.

Assistant Minister for Housing Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah said a residential unit which is priced at RM100,000 today might be valued at RM1 million 10 years later.

“In the 70s, a single-storey terrace house was available at RM14,000 but now it is priced at or over RM350,000. What happens now is that the demand exceeds the supply,” he said when responding to questions raised by Dr Abdul Rahman Junaidi (BN-Pantai Damai) and Ripin Lamat (BN-Lambir) in the august House yesterday.

Karim pointed out that the state government had launched several initiatives to monitor housing prices particularly those of the affordable houses intended for the low-income group.

To ensure that people could own a house, he said ceiling prices had been set for low-cost houses at RM50,400 per intermediate unit and RM59,220 per corner unit.

“For medium-cost houses, we have fixed RM80,000 for intermediate units and RM100,000 for corner lots. In addition, we have also launched projects such as Rumah Mesra Rakyat (RMR), Program Perumahan Rakyat (PPR), Rumah Mampu Milik (PMM), MyHome Scheme and Program Perumahan Penjawat Awam 1Malaysia.”

He said the Industralised Building System (IBS) was also encouraged for developing housing projects to bring down the construction costs.

‘Cost, land availability among criteria for low-cost houses’

December 10, 2015

THE COST and availability of land are among the factors the state government had to look into to construct low-cost houses within the city centre.

Assistant Minister of Housing Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah said if the government through its agencies were to acquire lands that are situated within the city, house buyers would have to pay quite a high compensation for their house.

“This would in a way increase the cost of development or construction for these houses which would not be feasible for the government to do and that’s why most of the low-cost houses in the state are placed near to the fringe of the city,” he said when responding to a question by David Wong Kee Woan (DAP-Pelawan) on the distance of low-cost houses under the 11th Malaysia Plan from city centre at the State Legislative Assembly (DUN) yesterday.

Abdul Karim said there was no specific mileage on how far low-cost houses should be built as there were some that were built within the city centre.

“But most of the time, we will try to look for landed property that are within the fringe of the city. That’s why in Kuching, you see a lot of them in Matang, Batu Gong as well as many that are coming up in Demak whereas in Sibu, you can see them in Rantau Panjang and Sibu Jaya.”

On a related question from Yap Hoi Liong (DAP-Dudong) regarding the number of low-cost houses built throughout the state from 2015 to 2017, Abdul Karim said various state and federal agencies had completed the building of 500 units of low-cost houses in Miri this year while a total of 439 low-cost houses and 113 People Friendly Houses (Rumah Mesra Rakyat) in Kuching would be completed next year.

“Under the 11th Malaysia Plan, the Housing Development Corporation (HDC) has proposed to build 8,361 units of low-cost houses in Kuching, 405 units in Sibu, 1,512 units in Bintulu, 1,905 units in Miri, 372 units in Mukah, 500 units in Limbang, 380 units in Kapit and 98 units in Kanowit.

“However, the implementation of these projects is subject to availability of fund approved by the government,” he noted.

He added that for the private sector, the number of low-cost houses to be built in future would depend on the private sector’s application.

“For 2015, the number of approved low-cost houses under the private sector as at November in Kuching is 27 units and Bintulu 45 units. There was no application approved yet for Sibu, Miri, Mukah, Limbang and Kapit.

This prompted Yap to question why no applications were approved for Sibu, which led Abdul Karim to retort that the approval for low-cost housing depended on the demand.

“As it is, if you were to check in Sibu, there are low-cost houses already constructed in Rantau Panjang and Sibu Jaya. I’m not too sure if you’ve got your record right on this, that there’s no approval for Sibu,” he remarked.

“My answer earlier on was that there’s no application for Sibu but there are low-cost houses being constructed in Sibu and I can say that Sibu has got quite a big chunk of low-cost houses that have been approved,” he added.

On what measures the state government would take to safeguard the quality of low-cost houses, Abdul Karim said two mechanisms were used to achieve this.

“The first mechanism is to ensure that at the planning approval stage, low-cost houses fulfil the requirements of the Development Control Standard (DCS) and other planning requirements in terms of sizes of the houses, setbacks, roading, open spaces, amenities and facilities.”

“The second mechanism is at the Building Approval stage where building design and structure are regulated through the Building Ordinance and issuance of Occupation Permit (OP). The issuance of OP will be done once the Qualified Submitting Person (QSP) certifies that the construction and completion are in compliance with the approved plan.”

Ceiling prices, govt initiatives to ensure affordable housing

December 10, 2015

KUCHING: Housing prices are expected to keep soaring despite the government’s continued efforts to strive for a balance between demand and supply by constructing more affordable houses.

Assistant Minister for Housing Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah pointed out that the state government had launched several initiatives to monitor housing prices particularly affordable housing intended for the low-income group.

To ensure that people could own a house, he said ceiling prices had been set for low-cost houses at RM50,400 per intermediate unit and RM59,220 per corner unit.

“For medium-cost houses, we have fixed RM80,000 for intermediate units and RM100,000 for corner lots. In addition, we have also launched projects such as Rumah Mesra Rakyat (RMR), Program Perumahan Rakyat (PPR), Rumah Mampu Milik (PMM), MyHome Scheme and Program Perumahan Penjawat Awam 1Malaysia.”

Sarawak BN rep says high time to revisit MA63

December 9, 2015

Barisan Nasional (BN) Sarawak denies that it’s trying to jump on the “popularity bandwagon” created by the Opposition on the Malaysia Agreement 1963 and claims that in fact Chief Minister Adenan Satem led the way.

KUCHING: An assemblyman who seconded a motion in the Sarawak Assembly calling on the Federal Government to comply with the intentions of the Founding Fathers in Borneo, as expressed in the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63), said that it (compliance) was an idea whose time has come.

“It’s high time to revisit the agreement. There’s increasing pressure on the Sarawak Government in the social media. People are raising the MA63 and asking all sorts of questions. The government has to respond.”

Asajaya assemblyman Abdul Karim Hamzah, also the Assistant Minister of Housing, disclosed that the Sarawak Government has since set up many committees on MA63.

He pointed out that it cannot be denied that there was a lot of unhappiness in Sarawak about the territory’s state of under-development despite over half a century of Federation with the peninsula and Sabah. “There are also questions on oil and gas rights, education, the status of the English language and freedom of worship. We are very unhappy that Sarawak, like Sabah, has been dragged into the Allah issue in the peninsula.”

Abdul Karim was explaining the motion introduced this week by Baleh assemblyman James Masing, also Sarawak Minister for Land Development. “After more than 50 years, there are various factors that ought to be looked into and considered.”

“Has MA63 been complied with?”

The Assistant Minister said that he doesn’t want to dwell on areas that have been eroded over the years and added that these have been raised by Chief Minister Adenan Satem. “Adenan has raised these issues in the State Assembly, in public in Sarawak and in the peninsula.”

Cabaran ketua masyarakat di luar bandar getir

December 09, 2016

Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah bergambar bersama-sama dengan seorang ketua masyarakat yang baru dilantik.

KUCHING: Ketua-ketua masyarakat di luar bandar menghadapi cabaran yang lebih mencabar dalam menjalankan tanggungjawab mereka.

Menurut Menteri Muda Pembangunan Belia (Bandar) Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah, hampir semua perkara yang berlaku di kampung ataupun kawasan akan dilaporkan kepada mereka untuk perhatian ataupun tindakan susulan.

Adakalanya mereka terpaksa mengenepikan keperluan ekonomi demi menunaikan tanggungjawab mereka sebagai ketua masyarakat, katanya ketika berucap di Majlis Malam Penghargaan Ketua Masyarakat dan Ketua Kaum Kawasan P197 Kota Samarahan di hotel di sini malam tadi.

Beliau kemudiannya menambah, atas sebab itulah beliau merasa bangga dengan komitmen yang tinggi yang ditunjukkan oleh ketua-ketua masyarakat di kawasan Parlimen Kota Samarahan.

Menyentuh mengenai persaraan ketua-ketua masyarakat, Abdul Karim berkata perkhidmatan sebagai ketua masyarakat hanya tidak diteruskan atas faktor-faktor seperti kesihatan, kehendak masyarakat setempat dan keperluan situasi.

Walau bagaimanapun, beliau menegaskan kerajaan Barisan Nasional seringkali memberi tempoh perkhidmatan yang agak panjang kepada ketua-ketua masyarakat kerana ia akur bahawa mereka memerlu masa untuk berada di tahap optimum.

Abdul Karim, yang merupakan ADUN Asajaya, turut menggesa agar Pejabat Residen dan Daerah berusaha untuk mengisi kekosongan jawatan ketua-ketuamasyarakat secepat yang mungkin untuk mengurangkan tempoh masa kesulitan yang dihadapi oleh masyarakat setempat disebabkan ketiadaan ketua-ketua masyarakat.

'Not wrong to revisit Malaysia Agreement'

December 09, 2015

THAT’S HILARIOUS: Assistant Minister of Housing Datuk Abdul Karim Hamzah (left) shares a light moment with Housing Minister Datuk Amar Abang Johari Tun Openg prior to attending the State Legislative Assembly (DUN) sitting yesterday. — Photo by Tan Song Wei

IT is not wrong for the state to revisit what its forefathers have agreed to when the Malaysia Agreement was penned on July 9, 1963.

Assistant Minister of Housing Datuk Abdul Karim Hamzah said there were various factors that ought to be looked into especially when Sarawak attained independence through Malaysia more than 50 years ago.

“What they have agreed to at that time, what safeguards the state has got, whether these terms and conditions they have agreed to at that moment of time…were they followed through by the leaders of post Malaysia after the leaders that helmed this beloved nation of ours through the years?

“These are natural questions that come to us especially now with the increase in social media where people are able to access information easier and with a population with a good eduction background, there’s a lot of questions being asked,” he said in his debate to support the motion calling on the state government to be fully committed in safeguarding the special interest of the state which was tabled by Land Development Minister Tan Sri Datuk Amar Dr James Masing at the State Legislative Assembly yesterday.

Abdul Karim (BN Asajaya), who seconded the motion, said Sarawakians had experienced many levels of unhappiness throughout the years on issues concerning the rate of infrastructure such as the condition of schools, hospitals, clinics, roads, electricity and clean water supplies in the state, and the insufficient funding given by the federal government among others.

“There is also unhappiness of certain policies such as the usage of English, the use of the word ‘Allah’, and the right to practise one’s faith through the years as well as unhappiness over erosions of the rights of our territory especially on the ‘continental shelf’ which even before we formed Malaysia, are recognised as ours.”

“I won’t go into the very details on what are the areas that have been eroded but suffice for me to say that some of these matters have been highlighted by Our Right Honourable Chief Minister (Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Adenan Satem) in his speeches across the state, in Peninsular Malaysia as well as by members of this august House,” he said.

Kerajaan negeri berhak halang Nurul Izzah masuki Sarawak

December 8, 2015 

KUCHING: Kerajaan negeri mempunyai sebab menghalang Naib Presiden Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) Nurul Izzah Anwar memasuki Sarawak.

Ahli Majlis Tertinggi Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah berkata Sarawak mempunyai kuasa untuk menyekat kemasukan Ahli Parlimen Lembah Pantai itu ke negeri ini memandang hak imigresen adalah hak negeri.

“Nurul telah dilihat membuat ‘hubungan’ dengan anak Kiram, juga menjadi jurucakap penjenayah yang telah menyerang Lahad Datu Sabah kira-kira dua tahun lalu (2013).

“Mungkin Nurul, Dr Xavier Jayakumar (naib presiden PKR) atau PKR menganggap ia (serangan Lahad Datu) perkara remeh tetapi kedaulatan negara telah diancam oleh kumpulan Kiram ini,” ujarnya ketika dihubungi semalam.

Karim yang juga Menteri Muda Pembangunan Belia berkata sebagai Ahli Parlimen dan warganegara Malaysia, Nurul harus tahu tindakannya itu adalah salah.

“Nurul telah mengangkat sumpah taat setia kepada Malaysia apabila menjadi Ahli Parlimen, sepatutnya tahu bahawa ‘berhubung’ dengan musuh negara adalah perkara yang salah.

“Selagi beliau (Nurul) tidak menjelaskan kedudukannya kepada negeri Sarawak, saya menyokong tindakan kerajaan negeri menegahnya memasuki Sarawak” tegasnya.

‘Carnival to engage with 30,000 youths to transform them through quality activities’

December 5, 2015

SIBU: The Youth Transformation Carnival is one of the platforms for the government to reach out to engage youths, Assistant Youth Minister Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah said yesterday.

The carnival themed ‘From Youth for Youth’ involves 30,000 youths across the divisions and districts. It’s held during the school holidays to get youths to be involved in quality activities.

“Many health programmes and activities have been lined up to connect with the younger generation. It is our hope to develop youths to be better citizens and get them to interact with each other,” Abdul Karim said when asked about the two-day Sibu division Youth Transformation Carnival which begins today.

This programme initiated by Ministry of Social Development (KPS) involved all relevant agencies, whether state or federal.

“It will be held in all divisions in Sarawak,” said Abdul Karim who is Asajaya assemblyman. The programme includes briefing and workshops, exhibitions, sporting activities, performance, talent show and appreciation ceremony.

Promote awareness on danger of drinking alcohol — Abdul Karim

December 4, 2015

KUCHING: The government should put more efforts in creating awareness of the danger of excessive alcohol consumption instead of imposing age limit on it.

Assistant Minister of Youth Development Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah said this was because the public had seen many accidents and social problems related to excessive consumption of alcohol.

“The government must find ways to educate the public against consuming this stuff (alcohol). It’s not just about putting an age limit and taking pride in it but more on creating awareness of the danger of excessive drinking of alcohol which is bad to one’s health.

“Instead of putting an age limit, the government should come up with measures on how to totally have an alcohol consumption free society,” he said when asked to comment yesterday on a news report that Malaysia, in its filing to the World Trade Organisation (WTO), planned to raise the minimum age for alcohol consumption from 18 to 21.

The Assistant Minister of Housing also said Malaysia, being a multi-racial and multi-religious country, should show the world that it can go forward and be progressive in business and trade despite being an Islamic nation without curtailing the rights of non-Muslims to do business, including brewing of alcohol.

It was reported by AFP that Malaysia, in its filing to WTO on Tuesday, aimed to prevent underage drinking and limit the accessibility of alcohol to high risk groups, though there was no mention on when the change would take place.

In addition to this, Malaysia also plans additional labelling requirements for alcohol products to warn about their effect on health.

Finally 82 seats up for grabs

December 04, 2015

KUCHING: Finally, the path is now all cleared for Sarawak to have 82 seats for contest in the forthcoming state election with the endorsement of 11 new seats by parliament, Asajaya Assemblyman Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah said.

Karim, who is also Assistant Minister of Youth Development (Urban) and Assistant Minister of Housing criticised the opposition parties for alleging in their debates on the motion in parliament that the redelineation was to help BN's hold on to power.

"Little do they know that this delineation will give the small minority races in Sarawak a voice in the DUN. The Orang Ulu, Bidayuh will have more voices as some of the new seats are in areas where this minority are sited.

"Opposition being opposition will only run down whatever good things that the Government will try to do," Karim explained in a text message received yesterday when asked for his comment on the latest endorsement and approval of the eleven new seats by parliament on Tuesday.

The motion on the redelineation of parliamentary and state constituencies in Sarawak was carried on Tuesday through block voting, with 130 MPs supporting and 72 opposing.

The newly approved state seats are N13 Batu Kitang, N17 Stakan, N18 Serembu, N23 Bukit Semuja, N26 Gedong, N40 Kabong, N57 Tellian, N63 Bukit Goram, N66 Murum, N70 Samalaju and N78 Mulu.

The Sarawak Legislative Assembly approved the relevant legislation on the increase in the number of state constituencies from 71 to 82 effective 5 Dec last year.

Bring back public confidence, Abdul Karim tells police

December 2, 2015

KUCHING: The police have to do their part in bringing back public confidence that the country is governed by the rule of law, in view of the two assault cases that happened in the state recently.

Assistant Minister of Youth Development Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah gave this view when commenting on the assault case involving Tuai Rumah Jambai from Bekelit in Bekenu and public assault of two youths at a mall here on Sunday.

“I congratulate the swift action taken by the police in apprehending the suspects in the assault case in Miri and the one at a shopping complex in Kuching. I have to admit that the public are alarmed by what is happening and thanks to social media for bringing this matter to the open.

“The police have to do their part in bringing back public confidence that the country is governed by the rule of law and not law of the jungle. We cannot let thugs and hooligans rule the street and create an atmosphere of fear to the public,” Abdul Karim told The Borneo Post yesterday.

On the assault case in a shopping mall, Abdul Karim said state Police Commissioner Datuk Seri Muhammad Sabtu Osman should not brush aside the incident as an isolated case and not a case involving criminal gangs.

“He should instead make sure that the long arm of the law will reach out to all offenders wherever they are. Do not let the public lose hope on law enforcement agencies.”

Sabtu had told reporters yesterday that the public assault here on Sunday was an ‘isolated case’ which was not in any way linked to gangsterism.