PBB Asajaya election machinery ‘well-oiled’ for polls — Abdul Karim

February 24, 2016

Abdul Karim being surrounded by reporters after the handover at SMK Hajah Laila Taib. On his right is Rubiah.

ASAJAYA: The Barisan Nasional (BN) election machinery in Asajaya will not be sitting on their laurels, despite not knowing who the party will face in the upcoming state election.

According to Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) supreme council member Assistant Minister of Youth Development Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah, those involved in the election machinery have been attending various courses and briefings to prepare them for the polls.

“All those from Asajaya PBB branch, including members from the Women and Youth wings, are now already on the ground,” he said after witnessing the handover of the 1Azam Niaga assistance programme at SMK Hajah Laila Taib yesterday.

On the event, Abdul Karim — who is Asajaya assemblyman — the aid programme for entrepreneurs in Asajaya was spearheaded by Sarawak Economic Development Corporation (SEDC), which he also commended for its strict vetting procedures.

“This is vital to ensure that each of the recipients, who are also enrolled under the e-Kasih system, are genuine entrepreneurs who have a true vision of expanding and improving their business,” he pointed out.

On another note, Karim who is also Assistant Minister of Housing, said the request for Asajaya to have its own Fire and Rescue Department station was still awaiting approval from the top authorities. He cited lack of financial resources and the location of the existing station in Muara Tuang as among the reasons for the delay of the project’s nod.

“For the department to build a new station, they (authorities) must consider the distance and the area’s population away from the current station in Muara Tuang.”

Medical services in Malaysia heavily subsidised— Abdul Karim

February 20, 2016

Abdul Karim (third left) being briefed by Dr Asri (right) on the usage of the dialysis machine.

KOTA SAMARAHAN: Assistant Minister of Housing Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah lauded the government’s role in providing subsidy on healthcare and medical services in the country.

The subsidy, he said, had made Malaysia one of the most affordable countries to obtain medicines and medical services — a fact that many Malaysians did not realise.

“The effort by the government will ensure that our citizens remain in good health,” said Abdul Karim at the presentation of two dialysis machines to Sarawak Heart Centre here yesterday.

A personal friend of his, he added, had visited Sarawak Heart Centre recently and was surprised that the fee was very minimal for a thorough checkup — adding that in Singapore, the same medical services and procedures would cost at least RM10,000.

“This (subsidy) is something all of us should be very grateful of,” said Abdul Karim, who is also Assistant Minister of Youth Development.

The two dialysis machines are donated by Borneo Development Corporation (BDC) Realty Sdn Bhd — a subsidiary of BDC (Sarawak) Sdn Bhd — a government-linked company.

“This is also part of our corporate social responsibility (CSR) to help the centre, which is overwhelmed by patients who have to undergo dialysis treatments every week,” said Abdul Karim, who is also BDC (Sarawak) Sdn Bhd chairman.

‘Perak DAP chief should bear responsibility for offensive FB posting’

February 20, 2016

KUCHING: Perak DAP chief Nga Kor Ming should take responsibility over the recent posting on his alleged Facebook account, which had altered caption of a photo depicting Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Adenan Satem.

Assistant Minister of Youth Development Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah, who is also PBB supreme council member, urged the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) to investigate the matter.

He believed that MCMC and other relevant authorities should take action against such act carried out by what he deemed as ‘a despicable individual out to create ill feeling and anger among the multi-ethnic races in this country’.

“Nga should be responsible for his posting and the anxieties that it created, especially to Sarawakians. Even though the posting has been removed, the damage has been done. DAP and Nga must apologise to Chief Minister Adenan for what they did.

“The caption of the photo on the Taiping MP’s Facebook account originally stated: ‘Adenan: Our Government will always treat the Chinese well’, but this was altered to ‘Balik Tongsan, Cina Babi’ and ‘Apa Lagi Cina Mau’.

“Such act is despicable, malicious, provocative and forthright idiotic — even more so that it was coming from a supposedly honourable MP,” he said in a statement yesterday.

Abdul Karim, who is Asajaya assemblyman, was referring to a Facebook page bearing Nga’s name that carried the ‘Balik Tongsan, Cina Babi’ (Go back to China, Chinese pigs) caption sloppily placed above Adenan’s picture.

Old Josephians reminisce school days at The Junk

February 20, 2016

Abdul Karim (seated second from right, second row) having a field day with his former classmates.

KUCHING: Assistant Minister for Housing, Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah and his former classmates at St Joseph’s Kuching reminisced their good school days at their reunion held at The Junk here recently.

Karim, who is Asajaya assemblyman, said they never failed to make the reunion annually.

“It is always a good feeling meeting former classmates and reminiscing our good old days in St Joseph’s secondary school in Kuching then. It is so nostalgic. I am happy to see fellow classmates doing well in their respective careers and I hope we can meet more often,” he said.

“Some of us have not met each other for almost 40 years, since we parted ways in 1977 (when we were in Form 5) or in 1979 (when we were in Form 6),” said Karim who is also Assistant Minister for Youth Development (Urban).

This time round, it was a special reunion for him and his classmates, because the current school principal Thomas Law showed them some of the physical developments that the school went through.

“It brought us down memory lane,” he said.

The reunion committee was chaired by Dr Dennis Kong, who is an eye specialist in one of the private hospitals in the city.

Abdul Karim: No way DAP can form unity government with BN

February 19, 2016

KUCHING: The state Barisan Nasional (BN) will never accept Democratic Action Party (DAP) into its fold as the idea will not augur well with the coalition’s policies, considering the different objectives and set-up between the two political entities.

Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) supreme council member Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah said both Barisan and DAP have their own history and objectives which are completely different which could prove difficult if the two were to work together in a unity government.

Although nothing is impossible in politics, the Asajaya assemblyman believes the possibility for a unity government between the state Barisan and the opposition party, given the present political scenario, is not feasible.

“DAP, through the years of its struggle, has been seen as a chauvinist, racist party. It might have tried to reach out to the other races in the last few years, to make it look ‘multiracial’, but the fact shows that it is a predominantly Chinese-based party. Unfortunately, the party’s struggle is also seen as more towards one particular race as well.

“Nevertheless, anything is possible in politics but looking at the present political scenario, prospect of a coalition government between BN and DAP looks almost nil and impossible,” Abdul Karim told The Borneo Post when contacted yesterday.

He was responding to state DAP chairman Chong Chieng Jen’s comment that his party did not rule out the possibility of forming a unity government with the Sarawak BN at the state level.

Chong, who is Bandar Kuching MP, was reported in a national Chinese daily as saying that as long as he is DAP Sarawak chairman, the party will not join BN. However, he would not rule out 100 per cent the possibility of forming a unity government with Barisan. He added that in many countries, the opposition cooperates with the ruling parties at state levels but fights at the federal level.

190 govt booths at Sarikei’s leg of Sejiwa Senada Programme

February 18, 2016

Abdul Karim (seated fourth right) addresses the press conference. Also seen (seated from right) are Betong Resident Romie Daniel Sigan, Anthony, Misnu, Len and others.

SARIKEI: The third series of Sejiwa Senada Programme to be held at the Sports Complex here Feb 19-21 will provide a platform for the people to obtain the various services provided by the state and federal governments.

A total of 170 federal and state government agencies as well as statutory bodies are expected to open up to 190 booths to provide services to the public during the three-day programme, Assistant Minister of Social Development Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah told a press conference at the Resident Office here yesterday.

Likening the services to those provided at the Urban Transformation Centre (UTC), Abdul Karim said the Sejiwa Senada was a one-stop centre represented by almost all agencies under the federal and state governments.

‘Prudent spending can help free civil servants from Ah Long’

February 18, 2016

SIBU: There is a need for the country’s civil service to train and guide the staff on prudent management of their salaries.

Assistant Minister of Social Development Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah voiced this out Monday, following the disclosure of a nationwide survey carried out by Congress of Unions of Employees in Public and Civil Services (Cuepacs) last December, stating that 150,000 (12 per cent) of civil servants in Malaysia were borrowing money from ‘Ah Long’ (unlicensed moneylender, or loan sharks).

According to state Cuepacs secretary Omar Bahrein Unin, low wages and high cost of living are two key factors that lead to these government employees borrowing from Ah Long, who are notoriously known for their ruthlessness in collecting debts.

Alumni collect RM8,300 in memory of Brother Columba

February 17, 2016

Kong (fourth right) handing over the cheque to Lau while Abdul Karim (second left) and others look on.

KUCHING: Members of St Joseph’s Class of 1977 (Form 5) successfully raised a total of RM8,300 during their recent reunion gathering in memory of Brother Columba Gleeson.

The donation will be distributed to charitable bodies associated with the late Brother Columba, including La Salle Foundation and Miguel House as well as any organisation linked to SMB St Joseph.

Assistant Housing Minister Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah, who is a former student of the school, said the money was raised from the auction of paintings of one of his classmates apart from other donation drives.

“This is the gesture in memory of Brother Columba who was our former principal,” said Abdul Karim, who is also Asajaya assemblyman.

“The school had produced many prominent figures including State Public Works director Zuraimi Sabki, Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (Unimas) vice-chancellor Datuk Prof Mohd Kadim Suaidi to name a few from Class of 1977,” he said after witnessing the handing over of the cheque to the school principal Thomas Lau by Dr Dennis Kong, an alumnus.

The alumni also recorded their condolence in memory of Brother Columba during the visit.

Meanwhile, Lau expressed his gratitude for the gesture by the alumni.

Kunjungan Tahun Baru Cina

Di kediaman Pengerusi Majlis Perniagaan Australia Roger Chan. Turut kelihatan ialah Yang di-Pertua Negeri Sarawak Tun Pehin Sri Haji Abdul Taib Mahmud sesrta isteri, Menteri Perumahan Datuk Amar Abang Johari Tun Openg serta isteri dan Menteri Pembangunan Tanah Tan Sri Dr. James Jemut Masing.

Di kediaman Ketua Kaum Steward Then bersama-sama dengan Ahli Parlimen Kota Samarahan Rubiah Wang dan ketua-ketua masyarakat Cina dari Asajaya.

Galeri: Valentine cake for Adenan, Jamilah

February 15, 2016

Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Adenan Satem and his wife Datin Patinggi Datuk Jamilah Anu jointly cut their 36th wedding anniversary cake while (from third left) Second Finance Minister Dato Sri Wong Soon Koh, Dr Nangka assemblyman Dr Annuar Rapaee, Assistant Housing Minister Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah who represented Housing Minister Datuk Amar Abang Johari Tun Openg, Datin Sri Pauline Leong ann(right) and others look on.

Galeri: The Launching of Kemuyang Development Project

February 15, 2016

(From second left) Second Finance Minister Dato Sri Wong Soon Koh, Nangka assemblyman Dr Annuar Rapaee, Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah, Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Adenan Satem, Datin Patinggi Datuk Jamilah Anu and others in a group photo with the people attending the function.

Assistant Housing Minister Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah shows Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Adenan Satem where the lots are located while (from left) Second Finance Minister Dato Sri Wong Soon Koh, his wife Pauline Leong, Adenan’s wife Datin Patinggi Datuk Jamilah Anu, Nangka assemblyman Dr Annuar Rapaee (third right) and others look on.

Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Adenan Satem  symbolically hands over TOL to Penghulu Abang Ahmad from Kampung Hilir while (from second left) Second Finance Minister Dato Sri Wong Soon Koh, Nangka assemblyman Dr Annuar Rapaee,  Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah, Datin Patinggi Datuk Jamilah Anu and others look on.

Phase 1 of Kemuyang development project to have 413 land lots

February 14, 2016

SIBU: A total of 413 lots under the first phase of the Kemuyang development project near here will be allocated to the extended families of Kampung Dato-Kampung Hilir fire victims here.

According to Nangka assemblyman Dr Annuar Rapaee, Phase 1 covers an area of 149 acres, with the size of each lot ranging between 10 and 12 points.

“The land clearing works should be completed in one month, and Phase 2 (of the project) will involve another 400 lots,” he said when met at the site yesterday.

‘Give Adenan a strong mandate to fight for state’

February 11, 2016

SIBU: Sarawakians have been urged to unite and stand solidly behind Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Adenan Satem in his quest to develop the state and protect the rights of Sarawakians.

Making the call Assistant Youth Minister Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah said the impending state election was very important to Sarawak.

“In the last two years, we were able to see various changes brought about by our chief minister.

“Even YB Chong (Chieng Jen) from DAP and PKR leaders acknowledge that but they stopped short of giving their support even though they knew that many positive (initiatives) were being introduced … because they are bound by directives and instructions from their KL Command Centre to fight Adenan and state BN at all cost,” Abdul Karim, who is Asajaya assemblyman said yesterday.

The PBB Supreme Council member was reacting to Chong’s statement that the opposition hoped to win 28 seats in the coming state polls.

In the last state election, DAP contested in 15 seats and won 12, PKR contested in 49 seats and won three, while one out of 41 Independent candidates won a seat.

Abdul Karim alleged that Chong and state DAP were all out to please their big bosses in KL and deny Adenan a smooth administration in his next five years.

Happy Chinese New Year

Seni silat mungkin perlu anjakan paradigma

February 07, 2016

Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah meyaksikan persembahan silat oleh seorang ahli RSS. Disebelah kiri beliau ialah Presiden RSS Tuan Haji Muhd Haneef Ali.

Seorang ahli RSS mempersembahkan
seni silat ketika menyambut ketibaan
Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah.

KUCHING: Seni silat mungkin memerlukan anjakan paradigma untuk menarik minat generasi muda mempelajarinya.

Menteri Muda Pembangunan Belia (Bandar) Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah berkata demikian ketika merasmikan Majlis Muzakarah Guru-Guru, Pemimpin dan Jurulatih Kanan Silat RSS Zon Selatan 2016 di Kompleks Belia dan Sukan Negeri Sarawak semalam.

Beliau berkata ada banyak faktor yang perlu diambil kira oleh pengamal seni silat dalam usaha untuk mengetengahkan seni silat dikalangan generasi muda.

Datuk Karim Rahman Hamzah dan
Tuan Haji Muhd Haneef Ali di majlis
perasmian

Antara lain, ujar Abdul Karim, faktor kaedah pengajaran mungkin perlu dinilai semula agar bersesuaian dengan perubahan masa.

Beliau juga menyentuh tentang faktor ekonomi yang mungkin mempengaruhi motivasi tenaga pengajar seni silat.

Menteri Muda kemudiannya memuji usaha untuk mengumpul para pengamal seni silat dibawah satu bunbung untuk berbincang dan mengambil kata sepakat mengenai seni silat.

Beliau menegaskan masa depan seni silat amat bergantung dengan usaha para pengamal seni silat, dan bukannya pihak lain.

Perhebat kempen kesedaran cegah HIV

February 3, 2016

PERANGI HIV: Karim menerima cenderamata daripada Abang Sardon selepas menghadiri ceramah Kuching Zero HIV sempena projek Bandar Raya Sejahtera Menuju Sifar HIV Menjelang 2020 di Auditorium FINAS di Kuching, semalam.

KUCHING: Penglibatan remaja dalam gejala tidak bermoral seawal usia 15 tahun antara faktor yang menyumbang kepada peningkatan kes jangkitan HIV di negeri ini.

Sehubungan itu, Menteri Muda Pembangunan Belia (Bandar) Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah berkata kempen kesedaran dan pencegahan terhadap masalah itu perlu diperluas dan diperhebatkan di peringkat sekolah.

Katanya, meskipun ia tidak melibatkan sukatan pembelajaran di sekolah, namun program kesedaran mampu membantu memberi penerangan bersifat pencegahan.

“Walaupun tidak melibatkan silibus tetapi ia tidak mendatangkan masalah untuk menjalankan kempen kesedaran tentang bahaya HIV di kalangan generasi muda,” ujarnya.

Karim berkata demikian ketika berucap pada ceramah Kuching Zero HIV sempena projek Bandar Raya Sejahtera Menuju Sifar HIV Menjelang 2020 di Auditorium FINAS di Jalan Sultan Tengah di sini, semalam.

Hadir sama, Pengarah Jabatan Penerangan Sarawak Abang Sardon Abang Hashim.

Menurut beliau, pencegahan dari peringkat awal penting supaya generasi muda tidak terjerumus ke dalam masalah sosial tidak bermoral.

‘Big mandate for Adenan will boost talk with Putrajaya’

February 3, 2016 

SIBU: A big mandate for Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Adenan Satem will give him an added boost in his negotiations with Putrajaya, says Assistant Minister of Social Development Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah.

He said this in reaction to Bandar Kuching MP Chong Chieng Jen’s recent statement that the state BN was presently strong enough to get Putrajaya to accept its demands for autonomy and hence, there was no reason for Adenan to keep calling for a big win in the coming state election for him to talk to Putrajaya.

“I am amused with YB Chong’s latest remark that there is no reason for Adenan to ask for a big mandate in the forthcoming state election for him to talk to Putrajaya.

Probably YB Chong is getting jittery with the popularity of Adenan to the extent that he comes up with the contention that it is not necessary for a big mandate for Adenan since BN is the government at both federal and state levels.”

Abdul Karim, who is Asajaya assemblyman, suggested that with a big mandate, Adenan could sit on the negotiating table with Putrajaya, knowing fully-well that the people of Sarawak were all behind him in his struggle and not just a portion of them.

“Chong is trying to frustrate this talk and negotiations with Putrajaya and I do not blame him. Chong heads the Sarawak branch of a Peninsular Malaysian-based party in DAP and they do not have any love for the state,” Abdul Karim, who is a a PBB supreme council member said.

“Chong has been running down our CM in whatever good deeds and actions he does and especially in his (Adenan’s) negotiations with Putrajaya.

HIV cases up 3-fold in Sarawak

February 3, 2016

Nine in 100,000 Sarawakians have AIDS, Karim warns figure higher if unreported cases taken into account

Abang Sardon (left) presents a memento to Abdul Karim.

KUCHING: Incidences of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) infection jumped three-fold over the past 10 years in Sarawak.

Quoting statistics, Youth Development (Urban) Assistant Minister Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah revealed that the number of cases increased from 3.3 per 100,000 people in 2003 to nine in 2013.

“In addition, reports also showed that the main cause of HIV infections in Sarawak was due to unprotected sex, which is different from states in Semenanjung Malaysia,” he said.

“And 74 per cent of the identified cases were aged between 30 and 49, which is during the most productive years of human beings that should be focused on developing self, career and family as well as contributing to society and nation,” he added.

Although the figure may seem small, he warned that this issue should not be taken lightly because the data did not include unreported cases.

Abdul Karim highlighted this at the #kuchingzeroHIV with the Media talk organised in conjunction with Kuching Healthy City Project – Towards Zero HIV by Year 2020 at the Auditorium of Malaysia National Film Development Board (Finas) Sarawak Branch along Jalan Sultan Tengah here yesterday.

Jointly organised by the Information Department and Health Department, the project was part of Asean countries’ initiative under the Asean Work Plan IV for HIV from 2012 to 2015 in which Malaysia has made a commitment to achieve ‘Asean Cities Getting To Zero’ Project.

PBB leaders tick off DAP’s Chong for playing ‘dumb’

February 1, 2016

KUCHING: Two Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) leaders have ticked off DAP Sarawak chairman Chong Chieng Jen for trying to conjure up a negative perception that the Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Adenan Satem was dictating the nomination and polling dates.

PBB supreme council member Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah, who is also Asajaya assemblyman, said he was irked by Chong for playing dumb on the Election Commission’s freedom to decide the nomination and polling dates.

He pointed out the remark made by Chong on the nomination and polling dates proposed by the Chief Minister was ‘petty and ridiculous’.

Chong sarat dengan imaginasi politik jahat

February 1, 2016

Dakwaan kononnya Adenan pengaruhi SPR berhubung tarikh PRN satu lagi cubaan burukkan populariti KM

KUCHING: Pengerusi Parti Tindakan Demokratik (DAP) Sarawak Chong Chieng Jen berniat jahat apabila beiau mendakwa Ketua Menteri Sarawak Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Adenan Satem mempengaruhi SPR berhubung tarikh PRN, kata Ahli Majlis Tertinggi Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah,

Tambah beliau lagi, dakwaan Chong itu menunjukkan betapa kerdil dan mengarutnya Ahli Parlimen Bandar Kuching merangkap Ahli Dewan Undangan Negeri (ADUN) Kota Sentosa itu.

“Chong hanya menggembar-gemburkan perkara yang kecil. Ketua Menteri (Adenan) hanya mencadangkan tarikh penamaan calon dan hari mengundi untuk Pilihan Raya Negeri (PRN) akan datang iaitu pada 18 April dan 30 April masing-masing.