Abdul Karim dismisses PKR’s plan to take over Sarawak govt as ‘wishful thinking’

August 28, 2018

SIBU: Miri MP Dr Michael Teo’s statement about Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) taking over Sarawak government come the next state election is just ‘wishful thinking’, says Minister of Tourism, Arts, Culture, Youth and Sport Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah.

According to the minister, PKR Sarawak has been expressing the same confidence in every Sarawak state election or general election (GE).

In his recent remarks, Dr Teo called upon PKR members in the three state constituencies under Baram parliamentary area, to play their roles towards enabling PKR take over the Sarawak government in the next state election.

The Miri MP expressed his confidence that PKR should be able to take over Petra Jaya – regarded as the seat of the Sarawak government – if all constituencies could work harder than before, as he highlighted Baram as one of PKR’s strongest divisions.

Hak Sarawak ke atas imigresen perlu dikekalkan: Karim

August 28, 2018 

TEGAS: Karim (tengah) bercakap kepada media di Kuching semalam. Turut kelihatan Menteri Muda Belia dan Sukan Datuk Snowdan Lawan (kiri). 

KUCHING: Hak Sarawak ke atas bidang imigresen perlu dikekalkan selamanya demi kedaulatan dan kepentingan rakyat negeri ini.

Menteri Pelancongan, Kesenian, Kebudayaan, Belia dan Sukan Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah berkata bidang imigresen bagi Sarawak adalah di luar kuasa politik.

Sama ada Kerajaan Sarawak dipegang oleh Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS), Barisan Nasional (BN) mahupun Pakatan Harapan (PH), hak imigresen adalah kekal seperti yang termaktub dalam Perjanjian Malaysia 1963 (1963).

Star-studded affair as Kuching plays host to Miss World Malaysia 2018

August 28, 2018

Abdul Karim (seated, third right), flanked by Snowdan (third left) and Hii, together with organisers and the 18 semi-finalists of Miss World Malaysia 2018 during the press conference.

KUCHING: A bevy of beauties has descended on the city as Kuching plays host to the prestigious Miss World Malaysia 2018 for the first time.

Tourism, Arts, Culture, Youth and Sports Minister Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah in a press conference yesterday said the city is honoured to stage such a grand event, which will see 12 finalists vie for the title.

“The star-studded event on Sept 8 at Borneo Convention Centre Kuching (BCCK) will be graced by Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg.

Karim and Fatimah against abolition of BR1M

August 28, 2018

KUCHING: The federal government’s decision to phase out the 1Malaysia People’s Aid (BR1M) in the near future does not sit well with several leaders of the Sarawak government.

In fact, they described the decision to cease the aid, which was first introduced by the Barisan Nasional (BN) government in 2012, on the grounds that there were elements of corruption on it as unreasonable.

The Tourism, Arts, Culture, Youth and Sports Minister Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah said the distribution of BR1M has been transparent, which is meant to help reduce the burden of recipients in meeting their daily needs.

“It’s not given to any Tom, Dick and Harry but only to those who qualify and meet the criteria. I don’t see any element of corruption in this handout because who the recipients support is never used as the yardstick for disbursement.

Sarawak berhak sekat orang tidak diingini, kata menteri

August 24, 2018

Karim Hamzah berkata keputusan parti pemerintah negeri keluar Barisan Nasional tidak mempengaruhi tapisan imigresen.

PETALING JAYA: Menteri Sarawak mengingatkan pemimpin Amanah bahawa kerajaan negeri berhak menyekat orang tidak diingini, dan keputusan parti pemerintah keluar Barisan Nasional tidak mempengaruhi tapisan imigresen.

“Shazni nampaknya menyamakan sekatan imigresen sebagai warisan Barisan Nasional, dan oleh itu tidak patut ada sekatan kerana parti-parti di Sarawak sudah berpisah dengan BN. Beliau salah jika beranggapan sedemikian,” kata Datuk Abdul Karim Hamzah kepada FMT hari ini.

Beliau menjawab kenyataan Naib Ketua Pemuda Amanah Shazni Munir Mohd Ithin yang berang apabila ditahan di Lapangan Terbang Sibu hari ini.

Read up on history, Sarawak minister hits back at Amanah leader

August 24, 2018

Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah also says Shazni Munir Mohd Ithnin's outburst justifies decision to bar him from entering the state.

Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah says Sabah, Sarawak retain their immigration rights under the Malaysia Agreement in 1963.

PETALING JAYA: Sarawak minister Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah has slammed an Amanah leader for labelling the state’s decision to bar him from entering a legacy of Barisan Nasional.

Karim said Amanah Youth vice-chief Shazni Munir Mohd Ithnin should read up on history, especially on rights of Sabah and Sarawak, when the two nation-states signed the Malaysia Agreement in 1963.

The PBB vice-president said the agreement stipulated the two states had the right to bar those they felt were “undesirable to the state”.

Sarawak a successful business-event host, says Abdul Karim

August 24, 2018

(back row, from sixth left) Abang Johari and Abdul Karim poses with other dignitaries and Anak Sarawak Award winners in conjunction with TriBE 2018.

KUCHING, August 24: Sarawak is on track to secure more business events after hosting over 750 of these lucrative gatherings since the setting up of Sarawak Convention Bureau (SCB) in 2006.

Minister of Tourism, Arts, Culture, Youth and Sports Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah said these business events brought in about 286,000 delegates and 948,000 delegate days. These translated to an economic value of more than RM645 million to Sarawak through direct delegate expenditure.

In his keynote address at the 9th Anak Sarawak Awards in conjunction with Business Events Tribal Meet (TriBE 2018) at a hotel here today, Abdul Karim said the state had been able to attract 30 business events this year, which brought in close to 10,000 delegates and generated RM34.6 million in direct delegate expenditure.

Persediaan kontinjen Sarawak memuaskan

August 21, 2018

MEMUASKAN: Karim (tengah) ketika bercakap pada sidang media dengan Pembantu Chef-de-Mission (ACDM) semasa mesyuarat yang diadakan di Kuching semalam.

KUCHING:Menteri Pelancongan, Kesenian, Kebudayaan, Belia dan Sukan Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah telah menyuarakan kepuasan terhadap persediaan yang sudah dilaksanakan kontinjen negeri ke Sukan Malaysia Ke-19 (SUKMA XIX) yang akan diadakan di Perak dari 11 hingga 22 September depan.

Beliau berkata demikian semasa pertemuan dengan Pembantu Chef-de-Mission (ACDM) setiap persatuan sukan yang diadakan di sini semalam.

“SUKMA XIX hanya tinggal 22 hari lagi dan kita mesti bersedia menghadapi cabaran yang akan datang ketika pertandingan bermula,” katanya pada pertemuan itu yang dihadiri 90 peserta termasuk Menteri Muda Belia dan Sukan Datuk Snowdan Lawan yang juga Chef-de-Mission (CDM) dan Ketua Pegawai Eksekutif Perbadanan Sukan Sarawak Dr Ong Kong Swee.

Abd Karim welcomes exemption of intrastate flights from SST

August 21, 2018

SIBU: People in Sarawak and Sabah are hoping the exemption of intrastate flights from Sales and Services Tax (SST) will result in the reduction of airfare cost within the two states.

For one, Minister of Tourism, Arts, Culture, Youth and Sports Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah is hopeful that it will be so, considering that flying is a vital mode of travel in these two vast states.

He was commenting on the Malaysian Association of Tour and Travel Agents (Matta) president Datuk Tan Kok Liang’s statement in lauding the federal government’s announcement on exemption of SST next month for all intrastate flights in Sabah and Sarawak.

S4S’ demands “unreasonable, dangerous”, says Abdul Karim

August 20, 2018

KUCHING, August 20: Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) vice-president Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah has blasted Sarawak for Sarawakians (S4S) for issuing a six-month ultimatum to the state government to reclaim full autonomy from Putrajaya under the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63).

The ultimatum formed part of a 10-point recommendation that S4S had forwarded last Saturday (Aug 18) to Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg, Deputy Chief Minister Tan Sri Dr James Jemut Masing, Minister of Local Government and Housing Datuk Dr Sim Kui Hian and Abdul Karim.

S4S had also emailed the same so-called manifesto to all the members of the State Legislative Assembly

Borneo Fashion Week back with a bang next month

Aug 18, 2018

State tourism minister Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah (seated centre), Borneo Fashion Week organiser Stephanie Alcantara (seated left) and other guests with some of the designers who will be taking part in the event. -TheStar

KUCHING: The Borneo Fashion Week will be back for a second time next month with a bigger line-up of designers.

Tourism, Arts, Culture, Youth and Sports Minister Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah said Sarawak’s diverse cultures and green environment made a perfect backdrop for BFW.

“We look forward to hosting a bigger and better event this year with more designers and visitors to Sarawak.

Kagumi misi, visi sukan Sarawak

August 18, 2018

JEMPUTAN: Howard (tiga kiri) menyampaikan watikah jemputan kepada Abdul Karim disaksikan (dari kanan) Ong, Hii, Snowdan dan delegasi dari negeri Perak di Kuching semalam.

KUCHING: Kerajaan negeri Perak berminat menjadikan Perbadanan Sukan Sarawak (PSS) sebagai model untuk menubuhkan perbadanan sukan mereka sendiri tidak lama lagi.

Pengerusi Jawatankuasa Pembangunan Belia dan Sukan Negeri Perak, Howard Lee Chuan How berkata pemilihan Sarawak adalah kerana kejayaan negeri ini dalam membangunkan bidang sukan secara menyeluruh.

“Di bawah kementerian kami, kita dalam proses untuk menubuhkan perbadanan sukan negeri sendiri.

Abdul Karim sees Sarawak Baru as old wine in new bottle

August 18, 2018

SIBU: Parties that formed Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) have good track record of managing and developing Sarawak to what it is today, says Minister of Tourism, Arts, Culture, Youth and Sports Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah.

He said this yesterday when commenting on Sarawak Baru pro tem chairman Cobbold John’s press statement claiming that he was confident the coalition of Sarawak Baru would pose a strong challenge to GPS, Pakatan Harapan Sarawak and/or Barisan Nasional in the next state election.

Abdul Karim remarked: “I won’t want to sound arrogant but the parties that formed GPS have a good track record of managing and developing Sarawak to what it is today.

Tiada masalah kita meraikan kemerdekaan 31 Ogos

August 16, 2018

KUCHING:Sambutan Hari Kemerdekaan pada 31 Ogos harus diraikan sebagai rakyat Malaysia.

Naib Presiden Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah berkata bagi Malaysia, 31 Ogos boleh diterima pakai sebagai Hari Kemerdekaan negara yang diraikan oleh semua rakyat Malaysia.

Manakala Hari Malaysia diraikan pada 16 September dan ia tidak menjadi satu masalah.

“Rakyat Sarawak seharusnya meraikan Hari Kemerdekaan pada 31 Ogos sebagai rakyat Malaysia,” katanya kepada Utusan Borneo semalam.

SUPP can leave GPS if it is not the right platform for their struggle

August 16, 2018

KUCHING: Sarawak United People’s Party (SUPP) has been told to be patient and pursue its struggles under Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS).

The advice came from Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) vice president Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah.

“Show that you can win over the urban seats and your present state seats instead of ‘venturing’ too far with your ten pointers,” said the Minister of Tourism, Arts, Culture, Youth and Sports when commenting on SUPP’s 10-point understanding it adopted during its Annual Delegates Conference (ADC) on Sunday.

The 10-point understanding adopted by SUPP is just an internal understanding within SUPP and was never raised by SUPP with its partners in GPS when they decided to form the coalition of state-based parties.

Abd Karim weighs in on abolition of PLKN

August 15, 2018

SIBU: The abolition of the National Service Training Programme (PLKN) has its pros and cons, Minister of Tourism, Arts, Culture, Youth and Sports Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah opines.

“Scrapping the programme is a good move if the cost is too high.

“However, PLKN is one of the best programmes to instil patriotism, unity among races, discipline and integration,” he said when asked to comment on Youth and Sports Minister Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman’s statement that the government had decided to abolish the PLKN and the National Civics Bureau (BTN) with immediate effect.

Karim ketuai delegasi Sarawak ke EATOF di Tottori, Jepun

August 14, 2018

BERSATU: Abdul Karim (dua kanan) bergambar bersama gabenor-gabenor negara-negara ahli semasa EATOF Ke-16. Turut kelihatan Setiausaha Agung EATOF SeongBo Yoon (lima kanan) dan Gabenor Tottori Jepun Shinji Hirai (empat kiri).

KUCHING: Menteri Pelancongan, Kesenian, Kebudayaan, Belia dan Sukan Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah mengetuai delegasi Sarawak ke Forum Pelancongan Antara-Wilayah Asia Timur (EATOF) yang diadakan di Tottori, Jepun pada 10 hingga 12 Ogos lepas.

EATOF ditubuhkan pada 2000, bagi mengekalkan keamanan dan kemakmuran menerusi pelbagai bidang terutama pelancongan dan ia satu-satunya persatuan pelancongan antarabangsa di Asia Timur.

Ketika ini EATOF mempunyai 10 ahli wilayah termasuk Sarawak (Malaysia), Cebu (Filipina), Gangwon (Korea Selatan), Jilin (China), Tuv (Mongolia), Tottori (Jepun); Yogyakarta (Indonesia), Quang Ninh (Vietnam), Siem Reap (Kemboja) dan Luang Prabang (Laos).

Karim reminds Baru - Dimana bumi dipijak, disitu langit dijunjung

August 13, 2018

SIBU: Works Minister Baru Bian must not treat the Sarawak government as ‘being lower in status’ whenever he is here.

Minister of Tourism, Arts, Culture, Youth and Sports Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah points out that Malaysia practises the federal and state systems of government – both are elected by the people.

In this regard, Abdul Karim says the federal ministers and federal officials must respect any state government, even if it is governed under a political coalition that is different from the present Pakatan Harapan (PH)-led federal government.

The Sarawak minister was reacting to a statement by Baru – also Selangau MP and Ba Kelalan assemblyman – who said those in the federal civil service must serve the new government with full dedication and loyalty in accordance with the principle of democracy.

Kerajaan PH tidak mampu tunaikan janji

August 10, 2018

KUCHING: Kerajaan Pakatan Harapan (PH) dilihat sebagai tidak mampu menunaikan semua janji dalam tempoh 100 hari pemeritahan mereka.

Naib Presiden Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah berkata kerajaan PH masih mempunyai tujuh hari lagi untuk melaksanakan semua janji mereka.

Malangnya menurut Karim, hampir semua perkara yang dijanjikan dalam manifesto Pilihan Raya Umum Ke-14 (PRU14) masih belum dipenuhi meskipun sudah hampir 100 hari selepas pilihan raya 9 Mei.

Yang jelas hilang atau tidak dilaksanakan oleh PH ialah janji untuk memberi 20 peratus royalti minyak dan gas kepada Sarawak, ujar Karim.

Hampir 100 hari pentadbiran PH, mana royalti minyak 20 peratus? - Karim

August 09, 2018

KUCHING: Kerajaan Pakatan Harapan (PH) mempunyai tujuh hari lagi untuk menunaikan semua perkara yang dijanjikan dalam tempoh 100 hari pemerintahan mereka. 

Bagaimanapun, Naib Presiden Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah (gambar) tidak yakin kerajaan PH mampu memenuhi semua janji ini dalam tempoh tersebut. 

Katanya, jika dilihat kembali hampir semua janji PH dalam manifesto Pilihan Raya Umum Ke-14 (PRU14) masih belum dipenuhi meskipun sudah hampir 100 hari selepas pilihan raya 9 Mei lepas. 

21st AMAC expected to draw record numbers

August 9, 2018

Karim (right) with (from second right) Snowdan, Pulainthiran, Hii and Sivapragasam at the launching of the 21st AMAC website. 

KUCHING: The 21st Asia Masters Athletics Championships (AMAC) from Dec 2 to 6 will be one of the major sports tourism events that Sarawak will be hosting next year, which coincides with the Visit Sarawak Year 2019.

Others include the World Para Swimming Championships that will be held at the Pandelela Rinong Aquatic Centre in July, and the Kuching Marathon in August.

“Kuching and Sarawak are indeed happy and honoured to be given the trust to organise this event (AMAC) because it will it not only display our organising skills but also showcase Kuching and Sarawak to the world,” said Minister of Tourism, Arts, Culture, Youth and Sports Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah.

Sarawak sedia terima jaguh olahraga dunia

August 09, 2018

LANCAR: (Dari kanan) Abdul Karim, Snowdan, Hii (dua kiri) dan tetamu lain merasmikan laman sesawang AMAC Ke-21.

KUCHING: Sarawak bersedia menyambut kedatangan lebih 3,000 jaguh olahraga dari 45 negara dalam Kejohanan Olahraga Master Asia (AMAC) Ke-21 yang dijadual berlangsung dari 2 hingga 6 Disember 2019.

Menteri Pelancongan, Kesenian, Kebudayaan, Belia dan Sukan Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah berkata, kerajaan Sarawak akan berusaha sebaik mungkin untuk menjadikan Sarawak tuan rumah terbaik bagi kejohanan berprestij itu.

“Penganjuran kejohanan ini bukan sahaja memberi peluang kepada kita mempamer sebagai penganjur yang baik tetapi juga dapat memperkenalkan Sarawak dan Kuching kepada dunia luar.

Abdul Karim doubts PH govt will be able to fulfil all manifesto pledges within 100 days

August 9, 2018

KUCHING: The Pakatan Harapan (PH) government has seven more days to complete all the manifesto pledges which it promised to fulfil within the 100 days period of governance.

However, Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) vice president Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah doubted that the PH federal government could do that in time as promised by PH in its election manifesto.

“Looking back, almost none of the pledges has been done in full,” he said.

Tourism tax no burden to Malaysians, must be maintained – Abdul Karim

August 8, 2018

SIBU: Minister of Tourism, Arts, Culture, Youth and Sports Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah says the tourism tax introduced last September should be maintained as it is not burdening Malaysians.

He said this yesterday in response to Deputy Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture Muhammad Bakhtiar Wan Chik’s statement that his ministry had no intention of cancelling the tourism tax imposed on foreign tourists since Sept 1 last year.

Bakhtiar said based on their assessments, tourism tax, which was also implemented by other countries such as the United States, the Netherlands, Italy, Singapore and Indonesia, had proven to have a positive impact on the tourism sector in the long run.

No one jumping ship from Sarawak ruling coalition, says PBB veep

August 7, 2018

Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu vice-president Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah denies report that several elected representatives of the Gabungan Parti Sarawak coalition plan to quit.

KUALA LUMPUR: A Sarawak state leader today brushed off talk that nine elected representatives would be leaving the Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) coalition.

Berita Harian reported that the nine had lost confidence in GPS’ top leadership, particularly Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB), which is the largest party in GPS.

But PBB vice-president Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah, in responding to the claims, said he was confident that no one from his party was jumping ship.

‘Bilateral friendships path for Kuching to gain global recognition’

August 5, 2018

Abdul Karim presents a memento to Park during the ceremony on Friday, witnessed by Chan (second left) and other officials.

KUCHING: Minister of Tourism, Arts, Culture, Youth and Sports Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah is hoping for Kuching to become an internationally recognised city in the not-too-distant future.

According to him, one of the ways for the city to achieve that status is through bilateral friendships and relationships with foreign cities around the world.

“The Sarawak government believes this bilateral friendship relationship to be one of the important aspects in the development of the state.

Sarawak jadi kuasa ragbi

August 05, 2018

TAHNIAH: Abdul Karim (berdiri, lima kiri) menyampaikan piala kejuaraan kepada SMK Sacred Heart yang mengungguli kategori lelaki bawah 18 tahun kejohanan ragbi 10-sebelah Piala Bro Albinus Edisi Ke-4 di Sibu semalam.

SIBU: Menteri Pelancongan, Kesenian, Kebudayaan, Belia dan Sukan Datuk Abdul Karim Hamzah berkata kerajaan sedang mempertimbang membina sebuah stadium ragbi di Sibu sejajar peningkatan populariti sukan itu.

“Ya, ragbi adalah salah satu sukan semakin meningkat di Sarawak dan kita mahu melihat Sarawak menjadi kuasa ragbi pada masa akan datang,” katanya ketika merasmikan kejohanan ragbi 10-sebelah Piala Bro Albinus Edisi Ke-4 di Stadium Tun Zaidi di sini semalam.

Bagi merealisasikan pelaksanaan stadium ragbi itu menjadi kenyataan, Abdul Karim berkata ia hanya berlaku jika Sibu terus menganjurkan pertandingan ragbi disertai pasukan datang dari seluruh bahagian negeri ini.

PBB man sees Azmin as arrogant and patronising

August 4, 2018

Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah bristles over the minister's statement about the meaning of 'royalty'.

Economic Affairs Minister Mohamed Azmin Ali has been accused of ‘redefining rights and royalties’.

PETALING JAYA: PBB vice-president Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah has accused Economic Affairs Minister Mohamed Azmin Ali of displaying arrogance and harbouring a condescending attitude towards the East Malaysian states with his statement about the meaning of “oil royalty”.

Karim doubts Chong’s authority to make offer to Sarawak govt

August 1, 2018

SIBU: Issues on Sarawak’s rights, royalty and territorial jurisdiction are not matters that a federal deputy minister could deliberate on just by holding a press conference, opines Minister of Tourism, Arts, Culture, Youth and Sports Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah.

He points out that these issues are of utmost importance to both Kuala Lumpur, and also Sarawak and Sabah.

He claims that Deputy Minister of Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Chong Chieng Jen, who is Pakatan Harapan (PH) Sarawak chairman, does not have the authority to speak for and on behalf of the federal government, or Petronas.