‘Policies up for review to make S’wak tourism more vibrant’

February 28, 2018

Abdul Karim stresses a point in his presentation on ‘Sarawak Tourism Blueprint’ at Sarawak Dialogue.

KUCHING: Sarawak is relooking at its strategies and policies to address several issues in the tourism sector and to improve what the state has to offer to visitors.

Minister of Tourism, Arts, Culture, Youth and Sports Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah pointed out the need to improve the overall standard and quality of products and services within the tourism industry – from accommodation, restaurants, tour guides to packages – so as to grow the sector and make Sarawak a preferred tourism destination.

“Our national parks are very popular with both local and foreign visitors but there is still room for improvement as I notice that the facilities are not up to expectations.

State in talks with Motac to allow guide licences to be issued by state ministry

February 27, 2018

Abdul Karim delivering his presentation on ‘Sarawak Tourism Blueprint’ at the Sarawak Dialogue event today.

KUCHING: State Minister of Tourism, Arts, Culture, Youth and Sports Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah today revealed that there are talks with the Ministry of Tourism and Culture (Motac) on allowing the issuance of tourist guide licenses by the state ministry.

He said there is need for the the state to issue its own licenses to counter the problem of insufficient tourist guides.

“Miri has only one or two registered tourist guide(s), ‘mana cukup’ (certainly not sufficient) and the unregistered guides come into play because there are not enough registered guides due to the expensive fees and difficulty of getting the license,” he said at a press conference after presenting his talk “Sarawak Tourism Blueprint” on the second day of the Sarawak Dialogue here.

Match fixing: Ministry to probe deeper after players released without charge

February 22, 2018

KUCHING: The Ministry of Tourism, Arts, Culture, Youth and Sports is looking to unearth proof over the alleged match-fixing of the Sarawak-Felcra United FC match.

Its minister Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah said solid evidence is needed to establish if there was a connection between the two state football players and a man alleged to be a bookie.

“We must get solid evidence to show a connection between both parties. If there is evidence to be found, I feel it is better that we part ways (with the two players),” he told reporters after attending the Sarawak Arts Congress 2018 here yesterday.

FAS jangan berkompromi: Abdul Karim

February 22, 2018 

Pengurusan bola sepak negeri diminta selidik jika ada pemain berurusan, mempunyai unsur ‘hubungan’ dengan ‘bookie’TEGAS: 

Abdul Karim (dua kanan) semasa mengiringi Abang Johari melawat pameran di Kongres Seni Sarawak 2018 di sebuah hotel terkemuka di Kuching, semalam.

KUCHING: Persatuan Bola Sepak Sarawak (FAS) diingat tidak berkompromi dengan mana-mana pemain yang didapati berurusan atau mempunyai unsur ‘hubungan’ dengan ‘bookie’, dengan menyingkirkan mereka daripada pasukan negeri.

Menteri Pelancongan, Kebudayaan, Kesenian, Belia dan Sukan Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah berkata, memang asas keadilan ialah seseorang itu tidak bersalah sehingga dibuktikan bersalah oleh mahkamah dan mana-mana pendakwaan memerlukan bukti yang benar- benar kukuh.

Bagaimanapun, Abdul Karim berkata: “Kita akan menyelidik kes pendakwaan serta kertas siasatan untuk melihat sekiranya terdapat unsur hubungan antara pemain dan ‘bookie’ yang dikesan tetapi tidak dapat dibuktikan dengan jelas, yang tidak dapat dibawa ke mahkamah.

Minister lauds decision to reinstate three Sukma sports

February 21, 2018

SIBU: Minister of Tourism, Arts, Culture, Youth and Sports Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah has again expressed satisfaction with the decision to reinstate Taekwondo, Sepak Takraw and Weightlifting in the Malaysia Games (Sukma) in Perak this year.

He was commenting on National Sports Council (NSC) director-general Datuk Ahmad Shapawi Ismail’s recent statement that the Sukma Supreme Committee had decided to reinstate sepak takraw, taekwondo and weightlifting in the 2018 Sukma.

It was not fair to the three sports to be dropped abruptly, Karim said.

Abdul Karim unhappy over alleged match-fixing involving S’wak footballers

February 19, 2018

KUCHING: Minister of Tourism, Arts, Culture, Youth and Sports Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah has expressed disappointment over an alleged match fixing involving two Sarawak FA’s Premier League team players.

Speaking to reporters here recently, Abdul Karim said any unethical practice in sports such as match fixing will not be tolerated and hoped the full force of the law will be meted if they are found guilty.

“Everybody is innocent until proven guilty. We let the MACC (Malaysian Anti- Corruption Commission) investigate first, but then we will not tolerate any unethical practice like this match fixing and all that.

Unethical practice in sports not tolerated – Abd Karim

February 16, 2018

KUCHING: Any unethical practice in sports such as match fixing will not be tolerated.

Minister of Tourism, Arts, Culture, Youth and Sports Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah, who said this, hoped the full force of the law will be meted against those found guilty of match fixing.

He said this today as he expressed disappointment over the two state football players were remanded for six days from today to facilitate probe into alleged match-fixing last Saturday.

Setting up of high-level committee on MA63 good for Sarawak, says Abdul Karim

February 12, 2018

KUCHING: The recent announcement that Putrajaya will set up a high-level committee to negotiate with Sarawak on outstanding issues regarding the state’s rights under the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) should augur well for Sarawak.

Tourism, Arts, Culture, Youth and Sports Minister Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah said it should serve as a platform for the state’s high-level committee headed by the three Deputy Chief Ministers to carry out negotiations with the federal government.

“The Prime Minister has said that a high-level committee will be set up to negotiate with the state on our rights that were eroded over the years. It is an ongoing process,” he said at a press conference here yesterday.

Ucapan Penghargaan dan Terimakasih kepada Semua Ahli Perwakilan dan Pemerhati PBB

Karim Naib Presiden PBB baharu

February 08, 2018

KUCHING: Para perwakilan Perhimpunan Agung Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) hari ini memilih empat Naib Presiden Sayap Bumiputera.

Mereka yang menang dalam pemilihan tersebut ialah, Datuk Julaihi Narawi (770), Dr Annuar Rapaee (764), Dr Abdul Rahman Junaidi (719), Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah (698).

(dari kiri) Abdul Karim, Dr Abdul Rahman, Julaihi dan Dr Annuar bergandingan tangan selepas diumumkan sebagai Naib Presiden Sayap Bumiputera.

Keputusan diumum oleh Pengerusi Tetap PBB, Datuk Amar Mohd Asfia Awang Nassar.

500 athletes to mount Sarawak’s challenge in 2018 Sukma

February 7, 2018

Abdul Karim (centre) alongside Snowdan (fourth right), Ong (fourth left), Hamsiah (third right) and Wan Akil (second right) giving the thumbs up in a group photo with seminar participants. 

KUCHING: Sarawak will send almost 500 athletes to compete in the 19th Malaysia Games (Sukma) to be held in Perak this September.

This was revealed by Tourism, Arts, Culture, Youth and Sports Minister Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah who noted that Sarawak will be among the biggest contingents participating in the biennial national sporting event.

“It is our hope that Sarawak will be able to emerge as champion at this year’s Sukma seeing that the the last time the state won the games was more than 20 years ago.

I leave it to party delegates, says Karim

February 4, 2018

KUCHING: Tourism, Arts, Culture, Youths and Sports Minister Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah, who is contesting for the vice president (VP) post in Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB), is leaving his fate to the delegates.

“I have offered myself and I have received the nominations; but it is up to the delegates to elect the best person during the election at the PBB convention.

“If they feel that I can give my service to the party at the higher level, I would do my very best for the party; but if they feel that others are better, they have the right to elect whoever they want.

Abdul Karim tidak bertanding Naib Presiden Kanan

February 02, 2018

KUCHING: Menteri Pelancongan, Kesenian, Kebudayaan, Belia dan Sukan Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah (gambar) memutuskan untuk tidak bertanding jawatan Naib Presiden Kanan Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB), sekali gus memberi laluan kepada Menteri Kerja Raya Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof jika tiada pencalonan lain.

Spekulasi sebelum ini menyatakan Abdul Karim yang kini merupakan Ahli Majlis Tertinggi dan Fadilla, Ketua Pemuda antara yang bertanding bagi jawatan itu.

Abdul Karim berkata keputusan untuk tidak bertanding bagi jawatan berkenaan selepas mempertimbangkan kepentingan parti selain mengelakkan sebarang perpecahan yang boleh menjejaskan tumpuan PBB semasa Pilihan Raya Umum Ke-14 (PRU14).

"To me, the party comes first" - Abdul Karim steps aside for Fadilah

February 01, 2018

KUCHING: Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah, one of the current PBB supreme council members, who has been speculated to contest for the senior vice-president post, has decided to give way to outgoing Youth chief Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof for the third top post in the party.

According to him, he decided not to go for the post after taking into consideration the interest of the party and to prevent any split that could jeopardise the party’s chances in the 14th General Election.

“To me the party comes first. So after taking into consideration the party’s interest especially in facing the general election, I decided not to go for it (senior vice-president post). And I have already discussed with Datuk Seri Fadillah that he should go ahead,” Abdul Karim told the media after attending a special meeting chaired by party acting deputy president Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas at PBB headquarters here yesterday.