State to receive 412 historic Bornean artefacts from Dutch city

November 27, 2017

Forster (fifth left) presents a historic artefact to Abdul Karim (fourth right) witnessed by Janelle (third right), Ipoi (fourth left) and other officials.

KUCHING: Sarawak will receive 412 historic artefacts which have been donated by the City of Delft in the Netherlands to the Sarawak Museum Department to be displayed in the exhibition galleries of the new Sarawak Museum Campus.

Tourism, Arts, Culture, Youth and Sports Minister Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah recently received one of the 412 historic artefacts, when he led a delegation from Sarawak to pay an appreciation visit to the city of Delft to convey the gratitude of the Sarawak State Government.

According to an article published by Asia-Europe Museum Network (Asemus) dated yesterday (Nov 27), the Deputy Mayor of Delft Ferrie Forster and the Director of Heritage Delft Janelle Moerman ceremonially handed over the collection to Abdul Karim and Sarawak Museum Department director Ipoi Datan at Museum Prinsenhof in Delft, the Netherlands.

Galeri: Majlis Makan Tahun Perdana

November 19, 2017

(From third left) Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg samples traditional Kedayan delicacies with his wife Datin Patinggi Datuk Juma’ani Tuanku Bujang, Assistant Minister of Women, Family and Childhood Development Rosey Yunus, Minister of Tourism, Arts, Culture, Youth and Sports Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah and Lambir assemblyman Ripin Lamat.

Chong tarik balik dakwaan terhadap Morshidi ekoran usul dibentang Karim

November 17, 2017

KUCHING: Chong Chieng Jen (DAP-Kota Sentosa) semalam menarik balik dakwaan ke atas Setiausaha Kerajaan Negeri Sarawak Tan Sri Datuk Amar Mohamad Morshidi Abdul Ghani ekoran satu usul dibentangkan Menteri Pelancongan, Kesenian, Kebudayaan, Belia dan Sukan Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah.

Karim membentangkan usul meminta Dewan menggantung Chong daripada menghadiri Persidangan DUN yang berbaki sehari, selepas pengerusi DAP Sarawak itu menggunakan perkataan ‘imbuhan’ (gratification) di dalam Dewan ke atas Morshidi.

“Saya menarik balik perkataan ‘imbuhan’ tetapi persoalannya ialah semua permohonan untuk status ‘penduduk tetap’ masih di atas meja setiausaha kerajaan negeri, kekal,” katanya ketika menjawab Speaker DUN Datuk Amar Mohamad Asfia Awang Nassar yang memintanya menarik balik perkataan itu.

Abdul Karim: Visitor arrivals expected to hit 5-million mark, generate RM8.98b

November 16, 2017

Abdul Karim holds up his winding-up speech during a photo call with Assistant Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture Datuk Lee Kim Shin.

THE STATE has received a total of 3.72 million visitor arrivals from January to September this year, an increase of 9.81 per cent compared to the same period in 2016 which saw 3.3 million arrivals.

Minister of Tourism, Arts, Culture, Youth and Sports Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah, in his winding up speech at the State Legislative Assembly (DUN) yesterday, said the state’s tourism industry has so far generated an estimated receipt of RM6.9 billion.

“Based on past trends of average arrivals for the month of October to December, my ministry is anticipating five million visitor arrivals into Sarawak in 2017, an increase of 7.3 per cent as compared with 4.66 million in 2016,” he said.

Sarawak cuba berunding dengan Kerajaan Persekutuan untuk lebih banyak hasil Cukai Pelancongan

November 16, 2017

KUCHING: Kementerian Pelancongan, Kesenian, Kebudayaan, Belia dan Sukan akan berusaha mendapatkan lebih lagi hasil daripada Cukai Pelancongan negara kepada negeri Sarawak.

Menterinya Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah berkata, pihaknya sedia maklum bahawa hasil Cukai Pelancongan akan diberi sama rata sebanyak 10 peratus kepada setiap negeri dalam Malaysia.

“Walaupun demikian, kita sedang cuba berunding dengan kerajaan persekutuan bagi mendapatkan lebih banyak lagi hasil Cukai Pelancongan negara untuk Sarawak,” katanya.

Sarawak berjaya jadi destinasi peringkat kedua bagi acara perniagaan

November 16, 2017

KUCHING: Sarawak berjaya meletakkan dirinya sebagai salah satu destinasi peringkat kedua bagi acara perniagaan di rantau ini.

Menteri Pelancongan, Ke-senian, Kebudayaan, Belia dan Sukan Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah berkata, dari Januari hingga Oktober tahun 2017, Biro Konvensyen Sarawak (SCB) membawa 73 acara perniagaan ke Sarawak.

“73 acara perniagaan ini mewakili hampir 25,000 dele-gasi dan 73 hari perwakilan dengan menterjemahkan kira-kira RM81.7 juta dalam perbelanjaan perwakilan terus ke Sarawak.

3.72 juta pelancong lawat Sarawak setakat September

November 16, 2017

Peningkatan 9.81 peratus berbanding tempoh sama tahun lalu, jana resit pelancongan dianggarkan RM6.9 bilion

PERSIDANGAN: Karim bersama Menteri Muda Pelancongan, Kesenian dan Kebudayaan Datuk Lee Kim Shim melihat ucapan penggulungan bagi kementeriannya pada Persidangan DUN di Kompleks DUN, Kuching, semalam.

KUCHING: Sarawak menerima 3.72 juta pelancong dari Januari hingga September tahun ini, pe-ningkatan sebanyak 9.81 peratus berbanding tempoh yang sama pada tahun lalu.

Menteri Pelancongan, Ke-senian, Kebudayaan, Belia dan Sukan Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah berkata, ia telah menjana resit pelancongan yang dianggarkan berjumlah RM6.9 bilion.

Menurut beliau, berdasarkan trend lalu, purata ketibaan untuk bulan Oktober hingga Disember, kementeriannya menjangkakan kedatangan lima juta pelawat ke Sarawak pada 2017 iaitu peningkatan sebanyak 7.3 peratus berbanding 4.66 juta pada 2016.

Sarawak Museum Campus catalyst for tourism growth — Abd Karim

November 16, 2017

THE ongoing Sarawak Museum Campus Project, targeted to be completed by end of 2019, will contribute greatly to the state’s tourism development.

The project, said Minister of Tourism, Arts, Culture, Youth and Sports Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah, has made significant progress and is 35 per cent complete.

“It will become the pride of the people of Sarawak and reposition Sarawak Museum Department as the manifestation of Sarawak’s culture, heritage and tourism,” he said.

RWMF tahun ini tarik 180 media antarabangsa, 50 bloger

November 16, 2017

KUCHING: Festival Hutan Hujan Sedunia (RWMF) tahun ini telah menarik 180 media antarabangsa dan 50 bloger dari seluruh dunia dengan nilai media berjumlah RM5 juta, kata Menteri Pelancongan, Kesenian, Kebudayaan, Belia dan Sukan Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah.

Menurutnya, selain jualan tiket masuk berjumlah RM959,885, jumlah hasil langsung yang diterima daripada jualan kraf tangan adalah RM100,000 sementara jualan makanan dan minuman direkodkan sebanyak RM181,500.

“Secara keseluruhan, festival ini mencatat kejayaan berdasarkan hasil daripada tinjauan yang dijalankan menyatakan bahawa 84 peratus penonton berpuas hati berbanding 78 peratus tahun sebelumnya,” kata Karim.

Karim lauds ABAS for hosting Asian School championship

November 13, 2017

Participating contingents in a group photo at the Megalanes Sarawak during the opening ceremony on Saturday.

KUCHING: Teams from 10 countries are currently participating in the 18th Asian Schools Tenpin Bowling Championship which started on Saturday and ends this Friday at the Megalanes at Batu Kawa here.

Besides Malaysia the other teams are from Australia, Chinese Taipei, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Kuwait, the Philippines, Saudi Arabia and Singapore.

Tourism, Arts, Culture, Youth and Sports Minister Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah officiated at the championship’s opening ceremony at the Megalanes on Saturday.

Galeri: Kota Samarahan Municipal Council inaugural anniversary dinner

November 12, 2017

Tun Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud cuts the anniversary cake, witnessed by Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas (fifth right), Dato Peter Minos (second right), Local Government and Housing Minister Datuk Dr Sim Kui Hian (third right), Tourism, Arts, Culture, Youth and Sports Minister Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah (right), Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri (left) and Taib’s wife Toh Puan Datuk Patinggi Ragad Kurdi Taib (third left).

Galeri: Official Opening of Sarawak Regatta-Kuching Waterfront Festival 2017 and Festival Kraf Sarawak 2017

November 12, 2017

Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg dots the eyes of a dragon boat.

Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg officiates at the opening of the craft festival.

Karim hopes Transport Ministry will reconsider its decision

November 10, 2017

KUCHING: The State Tourism, Arts, Culture, Youth and Sports Minister Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah hopes the Transport Ministry would reconsider its decision to cease operations for six routes in Sabah and Sarawak by next year to make way for commercial airlines.

He said: “Ceasing operations for these routes will not be good for business, tourism and movements within these states. 

"It is hoped that the Transport Ministry and Mavcom will look into this matter deeply and not cease operation just based on load (factor) as it will greatly hinder the growth and development of towns where these flights are connected.”

Golden Jubilee Bridge committee pays courtesy call on TYT

November 8, 2017

Abdul Karim (third left) shows Taib a document during the courtesy call. Morshidi is at third right.

KUCHING: Head of State Tun Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud received a courtesy call from the Golden Jubilee Bridge opening ceremony committee at Astana Negeri in Petra Jaya, Kuching yesterday.

State Secretary Tan Sri Datuk Amar Mohamad Morshidi Abdul Ghani invited Taib to officiate at the opening ceremony, which will be held on the evening of Nov 11.

The bridge across the Sarawak River will be a new landmark and tourist attraction here.

‘Community service programmes build character’

November 6, 2017

KUCHING: Public and private higher-learning institutions are encouraged to hold community service programmes to serve as a platform for character-building among their students or undergraduates.

Minister of Tourism, Arts, Culture, Youth and Sports Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah said these institutions could seek financial support from the government or elected representatives to organise such programmes.

“I truly feel that community service is very important for the development of our young leaders.

Galeri : A visit by the Prince of Wales and his wife

November 6, 2017

Tourism, Arts, Culture, Youth and Sports Minister Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah talks to Britain’s Prince Charles, the Prince of Wales and wife the Duchess of Cornwall Camilla Parker Bowles as they walk to the waiting vehicles upon their arrival.

Galeri: Celebration of the achievements of Sarawak athletes - SEA Games and Asean Para Games

November 2, 2017

Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Dr Abang Johari Tun Openg flanked by wife Datin Patinggi Hajjah Juma’ani Tuanku Bujang and other ministers celebrate the achievements of Sarawak athletes at this year’s SEA Games and Asean Para Games.

‘Investigate no-case decision’

November 2, 2017

Minister wants MACC to probe release of logs, vehicles seized during raid on illegal logging

SIBU: Minister of Tourism, Arts, Culture, Youth and Sports Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah calls for a thorough investigation into the ‘no case’ decision by the investigation committee on the alleged illegal timber logging in Bintulu.

Smelling a rat, he said Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) should also look into this matter to investigate whether there is any case of officials acting beyond their powers.

He was responding to The Borneo Post front page article headlined ‘Puzzled over release of seized logs, machinery worth millions’ dated Nov 1, where the director of Forest Department Sapuan Ahmad had confirmed the release of the logs and vehicles seized during the raid on alleged illegal timber logging.

Abdul Karim wants WAK to be continued

November 2, 2017

Abdul Karim speaks to the content drivers of WAK 2017. Also seen here are Marina (centre) and Donald (right).

KUCHING: Minister of Tourism, Arts, Culture, Youth and Sports Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah wants to see the What About Kuching (WAK) festival continue in coming years because it would be a waste to deprive locals of a platform to showcase all that was seen last month.

“I’m really impressed by what has been done by the community of Kuching,” he said during the WAK 2017 after-party on Monday night at Grand Margherita Hotel here.

The first WAK celebrating the arts, culture and lifestyles of the people of Kuching has just concluded, ending an event-packed month of October which saw everything from beads to beats, large-scale international events to local special interest tours, and events packing every weekend.