Saturday 17 December 2016

Shuttlers from 17 nations set for Malaysia Masters

December 17, 2016 

Karim (centre) flanked by Hii (left) and Chew at a press conference.

SIBU: Shuttlers from 17 countries will be taking part in the Victor Far East Malaysia Masters Badminton Championship 2017, to be held at the Sibu Indoor Stadium here from Jan 17 to 22.

The championship offers cash prizes totalling over RM500,000.

Assistant Minister for Youth and Sports Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah said top ranking badminton players were expected to converge on the new Sibu Indoor Stadium.

He added that the state was proud to host the prestigious event.

“It is organised by Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) and is part of the Badminton World Federation (BWF) Grand World Prix Series,” he told a press conference yesterday.

Karim said the Visit Sibu Year 2017 programme would receive a major boost as the badminton event is expected to attract local and foreign fans to Sibu.

The last three days of the championship would be broadcast live on Astro, he added.

Monday 12 December 2016

Selangor, Johor hold court as Sarawak foiled twice

December 12, 2016

Abdul Karim (back row, seventh left) with the organising committee and Selangor boys’ team.
SIBU: Assistant Minister of Youth and Sports Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah is pleased that both Sarawak team' performance has improved in the just concluded 16th Milo-Malaysia Youth Under-14 Volleyball Championship 2016.

However, The Borneo Post reported, the assistant minister admitted that he was fascinated with Selangor team which eventually emerged as the champions in the boys' category.
Abdul Karim, in his speech when officiating the closing ceremony, also congratulated the organising committee of Sarawak Volleyball Association (SAVA) for making the tournament a success.

Salam Maulidur Rasul


Saturday 10 December 2016

Galeri: Opening of ‘Devolution of Power Briefing’

December 10, 2016

Sarawak Information Department director Abang Sardon Abang Hashim presents a memento to Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Amar Abang Johari Tun Openg at the start of the briefing in Sibu, as Assistant Minister for Youth and Sport Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah looks on. -TheBorneoPost

Friday 9 December 2016

Get rid of negative mindset on blue-collar jobs — Abdul Karim

December 9, 2016

Abdul Karim (left) receiving a memento from Syeed Mohd during the event held at Centex Kuching, Jalan Sultan Tengah.
KUCHING: Youths in Sarawak should not have the mindset that only white-collar jobs offer lucrative salaries.

In fact, blue-collar jobs are fast replacing white-collar jobs in terms of paying lucrative salaries.

This was revealed by Youth and Sports Assistant Minister Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah in his speech during the launch of ‘Program Cekal: IPT Bebas Dadah’ at Centre of Technical Excellence (Centex) at Jalan Sultan Tengah here yesterday.

The event was jointly organised by Sarawak Malaysian Drug Prevention Association (Pemadam) and Centex.

Centex CEO Syeed Mohd Hussien Wan Abdul Rahman and other officials were present.

“In certain developed countries like South Korea, blue-collar jobs are much more lucrative than white-collar jobs,” Abdul Karim pointed out.

“After visiting a few developed countries, I came to the conclusion that blue-collar jobs are more in demand by most youths there as they pay better. I hope youths in our country, especially in Sarawak, get to see this become a reality soon,” he said.

State has very few abandoned private housing projects

December 9, 2016 

SIBU: The number of private housing development projects in the state that were abandoned is very low with just 20 recorded between 1996 and 2007.

This contrasted with the 26 abandoned projects in the peninsula just this year and a total of 134 abandoned private housing projects there between 2013 and last month.

Assistant Minister for Housing Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah said this could be partly attributed to new government mechanisms involving heavier penalties for defaulting developers.
   

Monday 5 December 2016

Pewaris Seni dan Surau Darul Muhibbah juara zikir

December 05, 2016


SADONG JAYA: Pewaris Seni dan Surau Darul Muhibbah telah muncul sebagai juara untuk kategori lelaki dan perempuan dalam Pertandingan Zikir PNK Asajaya / Semera yang berakhir semalam di Dewan Masyarakat Kampung Semara Ulu.

Pewaris Seni dari Kampung Semera Hilir manakala Surau Darul Muhibbah dari Kampung Semera Lot.

Menteri Muda Belia dan Sukan Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah dalam ucapan perasmian penutupan memuji usaha PNK Asajaya / Semera mengadakan pertandingan zikir.

Beliau berkata pertandingan zikir ini bukan sahaja dapat membantu mennyemarakkan budaya berzikir didalam masyarakat Islam di Sarawak tetapi ia juga membantu peserta membuat penilaian keatas tahap kemahiran mereka.

Beliau selanjutnya berkata beliau telah lama mengikuti perkembangan persatuan nelayan tersebut dan telah melihat kejayaan persatuan membantu ahli-ahli dan anak-anak mereka.

Beliau kemudiannya berkata atas sebab ini ia tidak memeranjatkan apabila PNK Asajaya / Semera dianggap sebagai diantara terbaik di Sarawak.

Abdul Karim percaya PNK Asajaya / Semera mampu untuk meningkatkan lagi tahap pencapaian yang telah diperolehi.

‘BN unperturbed by sensationalised issues in the next election’


SIBU: The issues sensationalised by the opposition will not affect Barisan Nasional (BN)’s chances of winning in the 14th general election (GE14), in that the current ruling coalition has been managing such issues quite well.

According to Assistant Minister for Youth and Sports Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah, there is no country or political system that is ever spared from crises and issues – each has experienced its own ups and downs.

His remarks came following views by political analysts that BN would retain power in the next election.

Specifically, Asia Institute of University of Tasmania director Prof James Chin had said that BN would win in GE14 as the decisive and majority votes would still come from the rural areas.

“At the rate we are going, I have full confidence that BN will still be in power after GE14. Definitely there’s unhappiness here and there, as well as issues cropping up that are being sensationalised by the opposition, but that is normal.

“We just need to manage such crises well and strive to instil confidence in the general public. So far, Malaysia has done pretty well and despite issues like 1MDB, the economic outlook for Malaysia is still much better than most other countries.

“It is on this note that I feel the people will still vote for BN. The opposition is much needed as well, for checks and balances,” Abdul Karim told The Borneo Post yesterday.

Saturday 3 December 2016

Sarawak officials reprimanded over Sukma takraw issue

December 3, 2016 


KUCHING: The issue of the Sarawak women’s sepak takraw squad employing the services of three Indonesian players during the Malaysia Games (Sukma) in July has been resolved amicably, said Youth and Sports and Solidarity Assistant Minister Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah.

Abdul Karim, who was appointed as Sarawak contingent’s chef de mission a month before the games, said he only found out about the matter during the games and had immediately instructed for the three foreign players to be replaced and not to be fielded when the squad competed in the semi-finals.

Abdul Karim also expressed his regret that such an incident occurred, adding that it might due to the eagerness of certain officers to win a medal.

“I have reprimanded the officers involved and it has been resolved amicably,” said Abdul Karim when asked to explain

the incident in a press conference on Thursday.

The assistant minister also give assurance that such an incident would not recur and that no action would be taken against the officers and the sepak takraw association.

Friday 2 December 2016

Sepak takraw controversy resolved


Youth, Sports and Solidarity Minister Dato Sri Michael Manyin Jawong (centre), flanked by Abdul Karim and the ministry’s permanent secretary Kameri Affendi, leading the Sarawak contingent competing in the 9th BIMP-EAGA Friendship Games to give a spirited pose during the handing over of state colours.
KUCHING: Assistant Minister of Youth and Sports Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah revealed that a controversy involving foreign players in Sarawak’s sepak takraw team in the recent Sukma has been resolved internally.

He said a warning letter has been issued to the team management to warn them against using wrong approaches to win medals for the state.

The team had reached the semi-finals stage.