Abdul Karim welcomes assurance on tourism tax payment

March 30, 2019

SIBU: Any amount of contribution from the federal government is very much welcomed in view of the termination of many tourism infrastructure related projects and events the past one year, Minister of Tourism, Arts, Culture, Youth and Sports Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah said yesterday.

He said this when commenting on a statement by the Finance Ministry on Thursday which confirmed the federal government will pay the 50 per cent tourism tax to the Sarawak government by end of this month as promised.

Abdul Karim, who is also Asajaya assemblyman, added: “First quarter of 2019 is almost nearing its end and if what the Ministry of Finance had said that they would be paying Sarawak its share of the tourism tax … I wish to say Thank You.

Penggusti lengan terbaik dunia beraksi di Kuching pada April ini

March 29, 2019

Abdul Karim bersama (dari dua kanan) Stephen, Hii, Teng, Igor, Zil dan tetamu lain memperaga hadiah Pertandingan Gusti Lengan Amal Antarabangsa Premier 101 Keempat selepas sidang media, hari ini.

KUCHING: Bandaraya Kuching bakal sesak dengan penggiat-penggiat gusti lengan dari seluruh dunia pada April depan yang akan mengambil bahagian dalam dua kejohanan antarabangsa.

Kejohanan pertama iaitu Pertandingan Gusti Lengan Amal Antarabangsa Premier 101 Keempat akan berlangsung dari 5 dan 6 April di Premier 101 manakala kejohanan kedua Kejohanan Gusti Lengan Antarabangsa TOP-8 Vendetta akan berlangsung pada 5 April di Hotel Pullman Kuching.

"Saya gembira kerana Sarawak dipilih sebagai salah satu tuan rumah penganjuran kejohanan gusti lengan dunia ini.

S’wak yet to receive Tourism Tax revenue — Abdul Karim

March 26, 2019

Minister of Tourism, Arts, Culture, Youth and Sports Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah says he hopes the tax monies will be given to Sarawak in the first quarter of this year, which ends at the end of this month.

“We will wait and see as the Finance Minister has promised that it (tourism revenue tax) will be paid in the first quarter of 2019,” said Abdul Karim.

“The last month for the first quarter will be March 2019 and hopefully the monies are forthcoming by then,” he said when contacted yesterday.

Boosting sports tourism in Sarawak

March 23, 2019

Karim, Snowdan (third right), Lee (fourth left), Hii (third left) and other guests with the grant recipients.

KUCHING: The Ministry of Tourism, Arts, Culture, Youth and Sports is encouraging more sports associations to organise major international competitions in Sarawak.

Its minister Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah said by doing so, the sports associations are not only helping the government to promote sports tourism but also make Sarawak a tourist destination.

He said in recent years, Sarawak have been organising a number of international sports events that had generated tourism revenue that contributed to the state economy.

‘Play your part in keeping neighbourhood safe’

March 22, 2019

Morshidi presents a memento to Abdul Karim after the closing of the workshop. At centre is Fazzrudin.

KUCHING: The community ought to shoulder the obligation of keeping their neighbourhoods safe instead of constantly relying on the authorities.

Minister of Tourism, Arts, Culture, Youth and Sports Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah said it serves no purpose if residents leave everything to the authorities, but do nothing themselves.

“I feel that residents should show keen interest by playing their role to report any illegal activities to the authorities, rather than choosing to keep mum about it.

AIFFA a platform for Asean unity, says minister

March 22, 2019

(From left) Hii, Abdul Karim, Mohd Mahyidin, U-Wei, actress Sangeeta Krishnasamy, Livan, Panchacharam, and actor/producer Jason Chong in a photo call at the networking reception.

KUALA LUMPUR: The Asean International Film Festival and Awards (AIFFA) is a platform for unity among Southeast Asian countries, says Minister of Tourism, Arts, Culture, Youth and Sports Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah.

He said the festival, which brings together 10 nations through the language of films, provides the opportunity for Southeast Asian countries to enjoy each other’s stories and learn about shared similarities.

“In understanding our neighbours, we can help preserve our stability and continue to work on our national agendas,” he said at the AIFFA networking reception, held here recently.

Jangan runtuhkan GPS, jika cintai Sarawak- Abdul Karim

March 21, 2019

Abdul Karim menerima cenderamata daripada Morshidi (dua kiri) dan disaksikan Fazzrudin (dua kanan) serta yang lain selepas majlis.

KUCHING: Individu atau pihak yang boleh merosakkan atau menghalang kemajuan dalam Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) perlu memikirkan tindakan mereka.

Naib Presiden Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah berkata, ia kerana mereka yang mencintai negeri ini, sudah pasti tidak mahu melihat GPS runtuh.

"Jika ada yang telah melakukan apa sahaja yang anda rasakan boleh merosakkan dan tidak membawa kemajuan kepada GPS, betulkan apa yang anda lakukan itu.

BESarawak-Tribal Gathering helps to align business plans

March 21, 2019

KUCHING: Business Events Sarawak (BESarawak) – Tribal Gathering of the Sarawak Convention Bureau (SCB) is a useful guideline to align business plans and programmes in order to grow the business events sector in Sarawak.

Minister of Tourism, Arts, Culture, Youth and Sports Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah said business events was an important contributor to the tourism industry and also a key area with an enormous impact in nation-building.

“I think all of us want Sarawak to enjoy more Business Events; more meetings, incentives, conventions and exhibitions (MICE) that will bring positive impact to our local people, our economy and sustainability efforts,” he said in a text of speech read by Assistant Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture Datuk Lee Kim

Shin at the event held here yesterday.

Karim rips RTM over golf presser no-show

March 19, 2019

Abdul Karim (centre) addresses the press on the upcoming golf tournament.

KUCHING: Minister of Tourism, Arts, Culture, Youth and Sports Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah wants Communications and Multimedia Minister Gobind Singh Deo to rectify the alleged guidelines that forbid Radio Televisyen Malaysia (RTM) from providing coverage to states under opposition rule.

Speaking to reporters after a press conference to announce the 117th Malaysian Amateur Open golf championship here yesterday, Abdul Karim said he cannot shake the feeling that opposition states in the country are being sidelined by the national broadcaster.

“I think RTM is clearly not giving the state government, which is under Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS), any coverage, and the minister-in-charge (Gobind) should do something about it soon,” he said.

Imbangi masa antara sukan digital dan fizikal: Abdul Karim

March 17, 2019

MULA!: Abdul Karim (kanan), Snowdan dan Hii melepaskan peserta bagi kategori veteran lelaki dan wanita sempena Program Larian Belia Sarawak 2019 di Le’ Park Dewan Suarah Kuching semalam.

KUCHING: Minat melampau golongan muda masa kini terhadap permainan video membimbangkan kerana ia menyumbang kepada pembangunan fizikal yang tidak sihat.

Menteri Pelancongan, Kesenian, Kebudayaan, Belia dan Sukan Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah berkata, meskipun permainan video kini telah diterima sebagai salah satu bidang sukan, namun ia perlu seimbang dengan sukan fizikal.

“Disebabkan terlalu terdedah dengan permainan video, golongan muda dilihat lupa akan aspek pembangunan fizikal.

Minister warns against overplaying drop in use of ‘state’

March 17, 2019 

KUCHING: Sarawak will drop the use of ‘state’ in all its official and administrative affairs as far as the Sarawak government goes.

Minister of Tourism, Arts, Culture, Youth and Sports Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah said the decision came about in light of the amendment bill on Article 1(2) of the Federal Constitution.

Despite the forthcoming change of policy, the Asajaya assemblyman said this did not mean that Sarawak would no longer be a state in Malaysia.

Sarawak to drop ‘state’ terminology as part of Federal Constitution amendments

March 16, 2019

KUCHING: The word ‘state’ will be dropped in all official government affairs as far as the Sarawak government is concerned.

Minister of Tourism, Arts, Culture, Youth and Sports Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah said this followed the amendments that would be made on Article 1(2) of the Federal Constitution.

However, according to him, the policy of dropping the word ‘state’ does not mean that Sarawak is no longer a state in Malaysia.

‘Cobbold John a true Sarawakian’

March 8, 2019

KUCHING: Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) vice president Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah described the late Cobbold John Lusoi as a true Sarawakian.

“Though we are in different turf of politics, I find him very passionate in his struggle for Sarawak and Iban (community), and he was a nice guy,” the Minister of Tourism, Arts, Culture, Youth and Sports said yesterday, while expressing his deepest condolences and heartfelt sympathy to the family.

Cobbold, the president of Parti Bansa Dayak Sarawak Baru (PBDSB), passed away yesterday morning at his residence in Kuala Lumpur due to heart failure.

German, S’wak firms ink MoU on tourism, culture, economic cooperation

March 7, 2019

(Standing left to right) Hii Chang Kee (permanent secretary to Ministry of Tourism Arts, Culture, Youth and Sports), Gerald Goh (advisor of Ethos Connect International Consulting Sdn Bhd), Lee, Abdul Karim, Junghanns, Guido Weiss (deputy CEO of HIK CCI Ostbrandenburg) and Wilson Sim (director of Ethos Connect International Consulting Sdn Bhd) at the signing of MoU between IHK and Ethos. Seen seated are Sim (left) and Woffling.

FRANKFURT: A memorandum of understanding (MoU) to foster international tourism, culture and economic cooperation between Germany and Sarawak was signed on March 5 at the German Chamber of Commerce and Industry, IHK–Projektgesellschaft Ostbrandenburg, Berlin.

The MoU was signed between Ethos Connect International Consulting Sdn Bhd, represented by its managing director Sim Ling Ling, and IHK-Projekgesellschaft represented by its chief executive officer Peter Woffling.

The signing ceremony was witnessed by Tourism, Arts, Culture, Youth and Sports Minister Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah and Assistant Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture Datuk Lee Khim Shin and Claus Junghanns, mayor of Frankfurt Oder.

Bina badan: Buda menerima durian runtuh

March 03, 2019

INSENTIF: Abdul Karim menyerahkan cek insentif kepada Buda sambil disaksikan (dari kanan) Hii, Ong dan Villaivan di Kuching kelmarin.

KUCHING: Jaguh bina badan Sarawak, Buda Anchah menerima durian runtuh daripada kerajaan negeri berupa wang tunai berjumlah RM8,000 sebagai insentif kejayaan beliau pada Kejohanan Bina Badan dan Sukan Fizikal Dunia Ke-10 di Chiang Mai, Thailand, Disember lalu.

Menteri Pelancongan, Kesenian, Kebudayaan, Belia dan Sukan, Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah menyampaikan sendiri cek insentif tersebut di pejabatnya, Bangunan Baitul Makmur di sini kelmarin.

Turut hadir Setiausaha Tetap Kementerian Pelancongan, Kesenian, Kebudayaan, Belia dan Sukan, Hii Chang Kee, Ketua Pegawai Eksekutif Perbadanan Sukan Sarawak (PSS) Dr Ong Kong Swee dan Koordinator Majlis Sukan Negeri Sarawak (MSNS), Villaivan Jee Edmond.

Abdul Karim: Ministry to provide funding for International Serian Bike Week

March 3, 2019

Abdul Karim sits astride a big bike, flanked by Riot on his left and John, and others at the launch of the 1st International Serian Bike Week.

SERIAN: The cost of organising the International Serian Bike Week will be included in the budget of the Ministry of Tourism, Arts, Culture, Youths and Sports next year.

Its minister Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah said he would allocate some fund for the event, hoping to turn it into an annual activity in Serian.

He believed that the International Serian Bike Week deserves some funding from his ministry because it has something to do with tourism, youths and sports.