Chinese troupes, organisers call on Abdul Karim

September 30, 2017

Abdul Karim poses for a photo call with performers from China.

KUCHING: The 16th Kuching Inter Cultural Mooncake Festival organised by Federation of Kuching Division Community Associations and Old Market Community Association, is happening at the historical Carpenter Street from Sep 28 until Oct 4.

The organising committee members and guests from other places yesterday paid a courtesy call on Minister of Tourism, Arts, Culture, Youth and Sports Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah at Masja.

Troupes from Fushan, China will be performing on Sep 30. On Oct 1 are performances by Guangzhou Music and Art Association,Foshan Nanhai Microfilm Association, Foshan Ancient Poetry Association,

Minister: Sarawak has no problem hosting Oktoberfest

September 29, 2017

KUCHING: The Sarawak government has no issue with hosting Oktoberfest as it can boost tourism in the state, said Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah.

The Tourism, Arts, Culture, Youth and Sports Minister said Oktoberfest has always been viewed as a celebration of culture and not just a "beer festival."

He did not see why a German cultural festival could not be celebrated in the country, considering that Malaysian cultures are also showcased in other countries.

Sarawak Regatta – Kuching Waterfront Festival 2017 from Nov 10-19

September 29, 2017

Abdul Karim chooses the official shirt for the Sarawak Regatta – Kuching Waterfront Festival 2017. Ik Pahon is at left.

KUCHING: The Sarawak Regatta – Kuching Waterfront Festival 2017 will be held from Nov 10 to 19 this year at Kuching Waterfront.

According to Tourism, Arts, Culture, Youth and Sports Minister Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah, the International Dragon Boat races will be held from Nov 10 to Nov 12 and Sarawak Regatta boat races will be held the following week from Nov 17 to Nov 19.

Besides the boat races, Abdul Karim said there will be many other programmes such as the Sarawak Kitchen or Food and Entrepreneurial Sale Festival as well as Malaysian Craft Sale throughout the period.

Sarawak tiada masalah dengan Oktoberfest, kata menteri

September 28, 2017

Menteri Sarawak Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah berkata Oktoberfest bukan festival minum bir tetapi sambutan budaya dan makanan Jerman.

PETALING JAYA: Sarawak tiada masalah sekiranya Oktoberfest diraikan di negeri itu kerana sambutan itu sebenarnya meraikan kebudayaan dan makanan, kata Menteri Pelancongan, Kesenian, Kebudayaan, Belia dan Sukan Sarawak Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah.

Ketika bantahan terhadap Oktoberfest di Lembah Klang masih berterusan, Karim berkata Sarawak tidak mempunyai isu dengan acara itu selagi ia tidak dipromosikan sebagai festival meminum bir semata-mata kerana Oktoberfest bukan mengenai arak.

“Di Malaysia, ada tanggapan salah mengenai Oktoberfest dan dipromosikan di kedai minum sebagai festival minum bir.

Sarawak open to Oktoberfest, says Karim

PETALING JAYA: Sarawak is open to Oktoberfest being celebrated in the state as it is a culture and food festival, says Sarawak Tourism, Arts, Culture, Youth and Sports Minister Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah.

While opposition persists against the celebration of Oktoberfest in the Klang Valley, Karim said there was no issue with it being held in the state as long as it wasn’t promoted purely as a beer drinking festival as the event wasn’t just about that.

“In Malaysia, Oktoberfest has been misconstrued and promoted by pubs as a beer drinking festival.

No issue with holding Oktoberfest

September 28, 2017

KUCHING: Tourism, Arts, Culture, Youth and Sports Minister Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah does not see any problem with Oktoberfest being celebrated in Sarawak.

“Oktoberfest is a cultural festival celebrated in Germany and during the festival, there will be a lot of food being served and you know, the westerners, the food must come with beer,” Abdul Karim said when asked to respond to some groups, including PAS, seeking to stop Oktoberfest being held in One Utama Shopping Mall in Petaling Jaya, Selangor.

The Better Beer Festival 2017, which was initially slated to be held on Oct 6 and 7 at the Publika Shopping Gallery in Kuala Lumpur, was forced to be cancelled after the Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) rejected the organisers’ application for the event.

Putting Kuching at the forefront

September 27, 2017

Festival aims to showcase arts, culture and lifestyles of the city and Sarawak to a wider audience

Abdul Karim (centre) together with WAK 2017 sponsors and content drivers at the launch of ‘JOY – Photographs & Haiku’ exhibition.

KUCHING: Tourism, Arts, Culture, Youth and Sports Minister Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah wants to see the upcoming ‘What About Kuching’ (WAK) festival continue to be held in the coming years.

“We have a lot of things to show,” he said of the month-long celebration of arts, culture and lifestyles which will be officially launched by the chief minister on Sept 30.

Speaking at the launch of ‘JOY – Photographs & Haiku’ yesterday, Abdul Karim recalled that 20 components had confirmed participation in the festival during its first media launch in July.

Karim hopes Mahathir will apologise to Sarawakians

September 23, 2017

KUCHING: Minister of Tourism, Arts, Culture, Youth and Sports Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah hopes former premier Tun Mahathir Mohamad could fight to return the State's rights - and apologise to Sarawakians.

The minister, in a press statement yesterday, pointed out that it was during Mahathir's premiership that most of Sarawak’s rights enshrined under Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) were taken away.

“I hope this time he could fight to return Sarawak’s rights and apologise to the people of Sarawak,”  he said as reported by The Borneo Post.

Promoting Sibu via BASE Jump gets ministerial support

September 22, 2017

SIBU: The Tourism, Arts, Culture, Youth and Sports Ministry will support any plan to bring Sibu BASE Jump to a higher level to better promote this town, Minister Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah said, noting that the sport has gained momentum here.

He gave this assurance yesterday when asked if the Tourism, Arts, Culture, Youth and Sports Ministry was also promoting extreme sports like Sibu BASE Jump.

“Any form of sports comes within the purview of my ministry. I am glad to see that extreme sports like Sibu Base Jump seemed to be gaining a big interest.

Selamat Menyambut Awal Muharram 1439H

CERTs hailed as rescue frontliners for the grassroots

September 16, 2017

ASAJAYA: Members of the Community Emergency Response Team (CERT), as the rescue frontliners at grassroots level, should have a sense of responsibility and commitment.

Minister of Tourism, Arts, Culture, Youth and Sports Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah said this at the launch of CERT for Asajaya state constituency at the sports complex here recently.

He said as the first rescue respondent during disasters, CERT is doing a voluntary service for the residents.

Selamat Menyambut Hari Malaysia 2017

KWJF to be staged annually — Abdul Karim

September 14, 2017

Abdul Karim (centre) receives the KWJF t-shirt from Soedirman witnessed by Mok (right), Gracie (left) and Edwin (second left).

KUCHING: The Kuching Waterfront Jazz Festival (KWJF) is set to become an annual event in the state starting this year.

This was revealed by Tourism, Arts, Culture, Youth and Sports Minister Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah who pointed out that Sarawak will now boast two jazz music festivals in a year, in Miri (Jazz Borneo) and Kuching.

“We have the Jazz Borneo festival which is held in May in Miri and now the KWJF in Kuching.

Sweeping Sarawak schools clean

13 Sep 2017

KUCHING: The National Association for the Prevention of Drugs (Pemadam) will carry out more random checks at Sarawak schools to combat drugs misuse among students.

State Pemadam chairman Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah said the agency was collaborating with the police and other authorities in the operation that would include random drug test on students.

Abdul Karim, who is also the Tourism, Arts, Culture, Youth and Sports Minister, added that in the past year, 247 students were tested positive for drugs from the urine samples taken during the spot checks.

Galeri: ‘BrandLaureate Industry Champion Brand ICON Awards 2017’

September 12, 2017

Minister of Tourism, Arts, Culture, Youth and Sports Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah (centre) accepts the award on behalf of Sarawak Convention Bureau (SCB) from Asian Strategy Leadership International chief executive officer Tan Sri Dr Michael O.K. Yeoh (second right), witnessed by (from left) APBF chairman Tan Sri Rainer Alhoff, SCB chairman Tan Sri Dr Muhammad Leo Michael Toyad Abdullah and BrandLaureate founding president Dr KK Johan.

State govt has no plan to impose Heritage Tax, Sarawakians assured

September 11, 2017

KUCHING: The state government has no plan to impose the Heritage Tax on Sarawakians as it does not want to add to their burden.

Minister of Tourism, Arts, Culture, Youth and Sports Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah, who confirmed this yesterday, said the state government could do it but chose not to burden the people further.

“We can also do it, but then we don’t want to burden people more because when they see the bill, there would be so many taxes – GST (Goods and Services Tax), Tourism Tax, services tax, Heritage Tax. It’s not really good for the industry,” he told reporters after launching the ‘Paint The World (PTW) Concert 2017’ at the civic centre here yesterday.

‘Govt in process of getting all lodging houses registered’

September 11, 2017

KUCHING: The government is in the process of getting all lodging houses registered following the implementation of the Tourism Tax effective Sept 1.

Minister of Tourism, Arts, Culture, Youth and Sports Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah said “a lot of them (lodging houses) now are not registered” but they are taxable under the new law.

“Any lodging houses that are registered are taxable; budget hotels included. I was made to understand that it’s across (the board).

“But a lot of them now are not registered, so that is why there is not much problem now. But then I do know that the exercise to get them registered is going on,” he said when met by journalists after launching the Paint The World (PTW) concert 2017 at the Civic Centre here yesterday.

Al-Fatihah Untuk Sultan Abdul Halim Mu'adzam Shah

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Karim happy to be with special children

September 10, 2017

Abdul Karim addressing the crowd of youths at the launch of the concert at Civic Centre.

KUCHING: Minister of Tourism, Arts, Culture, Youth and Sports Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman was happy that he could make himself available for the the Paint The World (PTW) concert 2017 today.

He said he always wanted to be part of a programme like the PTW concert.

“I sent my assistant minister to Kuala Lumpur for the Matta Fair just because I want to be here for this concert,” he was quoted by TheBorneoPost when officiating the opening ceremony here.

Govt supports international tournaments in S’wak — Karim

September 10, 2017

KUCHING: The state government will provide support to any sports association in organising international level tournaments in the state.

According to Tourism, Arts, Culture, Youth and Sports Minister Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah, the state government is keen for more international level tournaments to be held particularly in Kuching. 

“We realise that such tournament is vital in our effort to be a sports powerhouse and we are committed towards the mission,” said Karim as quoted by TheBorneoPost today.

Abdul Karim: Old DUN complex to become centre for performing arts

September 9, 2017

Abdul Karim signs on a giant mask on stage at the DBP Hall during the ceremony to launch the festival. Also seen is Abdullah Saidol (left).

KUCHING: The state government plans to develop the old state legislative assembly (DUN) complex here into a centre for performing arts.

According to Minister of Tourism, Arts, Culture, Youth and Sport Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah, works on modifying the old DUN complex for the proposed centre would commence at the end of this year.

He also commented that the new centre would have comfortable and modern seats for those who attend shows staged there.

Summit delegates treated to state dinner

September 8, 2017

KUCHING: The state government treated International Summit of Peace 2017 delegates from over 100 countries to a state dinner on Wednesday.

Delegates join in a cultural dance led by performers
from Sarawak Arts Council. 

In his welcoming address, Minister of Tourism, Arts, Culture, Youth and Sports Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah thanked Junior Chamber International (JCI) for choosing Kuching as the summit’s venue, making the city a centre of discussion for world peace.

“Peace is possible, that is why we are here. We believe in it and we are living it here in Kuching. In Kuching, our citizens come from different cultural and religious backgrounds yet we live harmoniously together,” he said.

Galeri: State dinner in conjunction with the International Summit of Peace

September 7, 2017

Datuk Amar Abang Johari Tun Openg (fifth left) receives a memento from JCI World president Dawn Hetzel.

Minister not adopting any school

September 5, 2017

SIBU: Tourism, Arts, Culture, Youth and Sports Minister Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah wants all school students in his constituency to be proficient in English.

However, he does not plan to adopt any particular school in his constituency for the English proficiency programme, saying he treats all the schools as ‘equal’.

“I would want all school students in my constituency to be proficient in English and not just focussing on one ‘adopted school’.

State govt eyeing global standards for sports facilities

September 4, 2017

Uggah (third left) presents the Best Sportsman Award to Loh Jack Chang. Also seen (from left) are Tourism, Arts, Culture, Youth and Sports Ministry permanent secretary Datu Ik Pahon Joyik, Assistant Minister of Youth and Sports Snowdan Lawan, Karim, State Secretary Tan Sri Datuk Amar Mohamad Morshidi Abdul Ghani, and MSNS director Dr Ong Kong Swee.

KUCHING: The state government will continue to improve sports facilities to reach international standards in order to become key venues for international-level championships.

Chief Minister Datuk Amar Abang Johari Tun Openg said having international-standard sporting venues can act as catalysts in improving the quality of athletes’ performances.

“The venue has a big impact on the athletes when they train, especially when they get to train at international-standard venues in the state.

Sarawak to hold discussions with Najib over tourism tax share

September 1, 2017

This is because the tax collection will be made by the finance ministry, and Najib is the finance minister, says Sarawak minister Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah.

PETALING JAYA: The Sarawak government plans to hold discussions with Prime Minister Najib Razak over the state’s share of the tourism tax revenue.

Tourism, Arts, Culture, Youth and Sports Minister Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah said this was because the tax collection would be made by the finance ministry, and Najib is the finance minister.

Selamat Hari Raya Aidil Adha