Karim lauds Gobind’s assurance

May 27, 2018

KUCHING: Minister of Tourism, Arts, Culture, Youth and Sports Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah thanks federal Minister of Communication and Multimedia Gobind Singh Deo for his assurance that RTM and other official media platforms will not black out news and official programmes of Sarawak state ministers.

The state minister and Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) vice president said he will write an official letter to Gobind regarding the matter.

“I thank him for his fast response and request for me to write to him which I will,” he said yesterday.

S'wak BN gov't accuses RTM of blackout

May 25, 2018

During the BN's reign, the opposition had always accused the mainstream media of not providing them coverage or worse, demonising them on the orders of their political paymasters.

However, now the Sarawak BN government has accused state-owned RTM of blacking out their news since Pakatan Harapan took over the federal government.

Speaking to Dayak Daily, state minister Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah claimed that several federal agencies have stopped cooperating with them.

BN S'wak tak puas hati RTM tak siar berita

May 25, 2018

Semasa pemerintahan BN, pembangkang selalu menuduh media arus perdana tidak memberikan liputan atau lebih buruk lagi, memburuk-burukkan mereka atas arahan tuan politik mereka.

Bagaimanapun, kini kerajaan BN Sarawak pula mendakwa media milik kerajaan, RTM tidak menyiarkan berita kerajaan negeri sejak Pakatan Harapan (HARAPAN) mengambil alih kerajaan persekutuan.

Bercakap kepada Dayak Daily, menteri Sarawak, Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah mendakwa beberapa agensi persekutuan telah berhenti bekerjasama dengan mereka.

Sarawak minister cries foul over RTM news blackout

25 May 2018

KUCHING, May 25 — A member of the Sarawak Cabinet claims the state government has been unfairly treated by national broadcaster, RTM, after Pakatan Harapan (PH) took over Putrajaya following the 14th general election.

Questioning RTM’s sense of responsibility in nation building, he said state ministers were not given any coverage and information about their programmes were not disseminated.

“Personally, I think this should not be the way. If our chief minister or other ministers from Barisan Nasional (BN) have functions that are apolitical, RTM should be impartial and air the news,” Abdul Karim said.

Abdul Karim believes high chance state govt will leave BN

May 24, 2018

KUCHING, May 24: Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) vice-president Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah believes there is a high likelihood that the present state ruling coalition will leave Barisan Nasional (BN) to form its own local coalition.

He said that is because BN as a brand is no longer accepted by the people and there is a need to rebrand.

“Personally I see, BN as a brand is already not accepted. There is need for rebranding.

Tourism tax should be maintained, says Abd Karim

May 24, 2018

SIBU: The tourism tax introduced last September should be left as it is since it does not burden the Malaysian public, says Minister of Tourism, Arts, Culture, Youth and Sports Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah.

“Tourists and foreigners are merely required to pay a minimal sum.

“Why must Malaysian Association of Tour and Travel Agents (Matta) now call for its abolition? It is just a small amount to pay by tourists and foreigners – RM10 per room per night which is a small amount if we take the exchange rate of US$, £ (Sterling Pound) or (Euro).

“Unless Matta can show us that tourist arrivals are very much affected by this restructured tourism tax, I believe we should just leave the tax as it is.”

PBB: Winds of change won’t blow in Sarawak

May 23, 2018

A party veep says BN’s defeat at the federal level was due to issues related to Najib Razak and Umno.

PETALING JAYA: A PBB leader has dismissed Sarawak Report editor Clare Rewcastle-Brown’s prediction of a change of power in Sarawak as coming from someone who is out of touch with current realities in the state.

“The Sarawak she knew 20 years ago is very much different from the Sarawak of today, which has changed for the better,” said Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah, a PBB vice-president.

He also said Barisan Nasional’s (BN) defeat at the federal level would have no effect on Sarawak BN because of the state’s partial autonomy.

Chong slammed over remarks on autonomy, devolution of power

May 21, 2018

SIBU: Minister of Tourism, Arts, Culture, Youth and Sports Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah has slammed state Pakatan Harapan (PH) chairman Chong Chieng Jen for trying to hoodwink Sarawakians.

The former points out that autonomy and devolution of powers have nothing to do with Democratic Action Party (DAP) – of which Chong is the Sarawak chairman.

“Who is YB Chong and DAP trying to hoodwink? Autonomy and devolution of powers are about decentralisation of powers from the central government to the state government.

Banyak bangunan lama di Sarawak digazetkan: Karim

May 20, 2018

SIBU: Menteri Pelancongan, Kesenian, Kebudayaan, Belia dan Sukan Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah berkata kerajaan negeri telah menggazetkan banyak bangunan lama di seluruh Sarawak sebagai bangunan warisan.

“Ini adalah untuk mengekalkan bangunan-bangunan ini sebagai sebahagian daripada warisan kita untuk diwarisi generasi akan datang serta sebagai tarikan pelancong,” ujarnya kepada pemberita, baru-baru ini.

Karim yang juga ADUN Asajaya, berpendapat terdapat keperluan untuk mengetatkan undang-undang bagi memelihara bangunan warisan kerana terdapat beberapa bangunan milik swasta yang telah diubah suai atau dirobohkan bagi memberi laluan kepada pembinaan bangunan moden.

Karim hopes new govt will continue sports devt in Sarawak

May 20, 2018

KUCHING: Minister of Tourism, Arts, Culture, Youth and Sports Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah is hoping that the new federal government under the leadership of Pakatan Harapan (PH) will be fair in providing sports facilities and ensure that all states enjoy equal share.

He said athletes in Sarawak and Sabah have long faced difficulties in improving their performance when compared to their counterparts in Peninsular Malaysia because sports schools in both states are lacking facilities.

“It can’t be denied that the chance for East Malaysia athletes to improve their performance is difficult because there are no complete facilities built in both states.

Minister points out need to beef up laws on heritage buildings

May 19, 2018

SIBU: The state government has gazetted many forts and old structures across the state as heritage buildings.

In this regard, Minister of Tourism, Arts, Culture, Youth and Sports Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah stresses on the need to tighten the laws aimed at preserving such heritage buildings, in view of several instances where some privately-owned buildings were given major facelifts or knocked down to make way for modern buildings.

“This (move) is to preserve these buildings as part of our heritage for our future generations to see, and also for tourism,” he told The Borneo Post here recently in response to a question about the state government taking steps to preserve colonial buildings for tourism, like those done in Singapore.

Harap kerajaan PH tidak pilih kasih

May 19, 2018

KUCHING: Menteri Pelancongan, Kesenian, Kebudayaan, Belia dan Sukan, Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah berharap kerajaan baharu pimpinan Pakatan Harapan (PH) tidak bersikap pilih kasih dalam penyediaan fasiliti sukan dan memastikan semua negeri dapat menikmati kemudahan sukan yang setara.

Menurutnya, atlet-atlet sukan di Sarawak dan Sabah telah lama berdepan kekangan untuk meningkatkan prestasi berbanding rakan-rakan mereka di Semenanjung Malaysia kerana ketiadaan kemudahan sukan yang baik seperti sekolah sukan lengkap dengan fasiliti terkini.

“Memang tidak dinafikan peluang untuk atlet-atlet Sarawak dan Sabah meningkatkan prestasi amat sukar kerana tiada kemudahan lengkap dibina di kedua-dua negeri terbabit.

Don’t act like a minister, Abd Karim tells Chong

May 18, 2018

SIBU: State Pakatan Harapan (PH) chairman  Chong Chieng Jen should be patient and wait for his appointment before giving policy direction.

In urging Chong to take things slowly yesterday, Minister of Tourism, Arts, Culture, Youth and Sports Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah pointed out that Chong is not even a minister or spokesman for PH, but acted like one.

He added that Chong must not act arrogant, thinking as if DAP is the government of the day in Sarawak.

“Who has appointed YB Chong and DAP to be the judge and the executor?

PBB not in any talks with PH

May 13, 2018

SIBU: Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) is not in any negotiation with Pakatan Harapan (PH), whether at state or federal level.

In this regard, Minister of Tourism, Arts, Culture, Youth and Sports Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah describes PBB as a ‘well-cultured party that has overcome many challenges in its last 50 years or so’.

He adds that PBB and its state partners – Sarawak United People’s Party (SUPP), Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS), and Progressive Democratic Party (PDP) – are still ‘the government of the day’ in Sarawak.

Cooperation between federal-state govts can still be worked out – Abd Karim

May 13, 2018

KUCHING: There is a possibility that some level of cooperation between the state Barisan Nasional (BN) government and Pakatan Harapan (PH) federal government could still be worked out.

PBB vice president Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah, however, stressed that the rumours saying the state BN was joining PH were just that (rumours).

As such, he called on state PH leaders namely state DAP chairman Chong Chieng Jen and state PKR chairman Baru Bian not to be jumpy and panicky over such speculations of state BN parties, especially PBB, wanting to cross over to PH.

No, PBB not joining PH, says Karim

May 12, 2018

* PBB veep Datuk Abdul Karim Hamzah dismisses state opposition chief's fears that PH might accept the state's biggest party into the new ruling federal coalition.

* The Sarawak state minister says PBB is ready to face any challenge as an opposition government following Pakatan Harapan’s victory at the polls. (Facebook pic)

PETALING JAYA: A Sarawak state minister today brushed off comments from two state opposition leaders over speculation that PBB may join the Pakatan Harapan (PH) coalition.

In response to statements issued by Sarawak PKR chairman Baru Bian and Sarawak DAP chairman Chong Chieng Jen, the state Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture, Youth and Sports, Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah, said PBB was not in any negotiations with PH.

“I am amused by the sudden outburst by Chong and Baru rejecting any attempt to accept parties in the Sarawak Barisan National (BN) coalition, especially PBB into PH.

PBB supreme council to meet next week

May 11. 2018

KUCHING: Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) will hold its supreme council meeting next week.

This was disclosed today by a supreme council member Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah.

It is possible that the meeting will decide the future direction of the state government, he told Malay Mail.

Tourism graduates advised to learn more languages

May 11, 2018

Abdul Karim (centre) presents a scroll to a graduate.

KUCHING: With the tourism sector becoming a booming industry there is a need for graduates of tourism-related courses to master more languages so that they will be more efficient in serving tourists.

As an example, tour guides need to be able to speak Mandarin following the launching of the Kuching-Shenzhen route last December, Minister of Tourism, Arts, Culture, Youth and Sports Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah said.

“This is not just limited to Mandarin, in fact, take up more languages to be multilingual and your demand would increase, and attract tourists from other countries to come visit Sarawak,” he said at the 14th convocation of SATT College yesterday.

Karim to oversee FAS' restructuring exercise

May 10, 2018

The Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg speaking to reporters while the Minister of Tourism, Arts, Culture, Youth and Sports Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah looks on. Also seen are (from right) Tupong assemblyman Fazzrudin Abdul Rahman and Assistant Youth and Sports Minister Datuk Snowdan Lawan.

KUCHING: The announcement on the appointment of Minister of Tourism, Arts, Culture, Youth and Sports Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah to head a task force to carry out a restructuring exercise on Sarawak Football Association (FAS) was made by the Sarawak Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg during a press conference at the opening ceremony of the Pandelela Rinong Aquatic Centre in Petra Jaya on last Tuesday.

Galeri: Official Opening of Pandelela Rinong Aquatic Centre

May 9, 2018

Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg signs the plaque to officially declare the Pandelela Rinong Aquatics Centre open. Looking on (front, from left) are Olympic medallist in diving Pandelela Rinong Pamg, Abang Johari’s wife Datin Patinggi Datuk Juma’ani Tuanku Bujang, Tourism, Arts, Culture, Youth and Sports Minister Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah and Assistant Youth and Sports Minister Datuk Snowdan Lawan. -TheBorneoPost

Wushu can promote unity — Karim

May 6, 2018

Karim draws the sword to declare open the wushu competition while Wong (fourth left), and (from fourth right) Ong, Hii and WFS committee and organising committee look on. 

KUCHING: Wushu should be supported and further promoted in Sarawak as it is one of the sports that could be utilised to promote and strengthen the unity among the various races in the state.

In pointing this out during the opening ceremony and welcoming dinner for the participants of the 8th Kementerian Pendidikan Malaysia (KPM) Wushu Championship at a local hotel on Friday, Minister of Tourism, Arts, Culture, Youth and Sports Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah noted that the traditional Chinese martial arts is now widely practised by many races other than the Chinese.

“Wushu is actually a popular sport in Sarawak and it has contributed quite a lot of medals for Sarawak in Sukan Malaysia (Sukma). The beauty that I can see in this sport is that it is also been able to encourage other ethnic races to get involved in it.