Kidney patient receives donation from St Joseph’s class of ’77 schoolmates

May 29, 2019

Abdul Karim alongside (from left) Goh, Ikhwan and Tai hands over the donation to Romawi

KUCHING: Fifty-nine-year-old kidney patient Awang Romawi Awang Mais received a special visit from his classmates of St Joseph’s School class of 1977, including Minister of Tourism, Arts, Culture, Youth and Sports Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah.

While there, they handed over a donation of RM20,000, which was collected among their former classmates, to Romawi in an effort to aid his kidney dialysis treatment at the National Kidney Foundation (NKF) Dialysis Centre.

According to Abdul Karim, Romawi is currently suffering from an acute kidney failure, requiring him to undergo dialysis treatment there.

‘RWMF is here to stay’

May 29, 2019

Abdul Karim, flanked by Sharzede (left) and Yu, during the press conference.

KUCHING: After 22 years of success, Rainforest World Music Festival (RWMF) has now been established as a major international world music festival and is set to continue to be staged for years to come.

This was stated by Minister of Tourism, Arts, Culture, Youth and Sports Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah who also noted that the festival has managed to sustain itself throughout the years.

“I was informed that during its first year, there were only 300 festival goers attending the festival – throughout the years the numbers kept increasing and up until last year, 22,000 people went to the festival.

Inaugural Sarawak International Festival of Music and Arts June 28, 29

May 23, 2019

Abdul Karim (centre) and other committee members give the thumbs-up to the event.

KUCHING: The inaugural Sarawak International Festival of Music and Arts (SIFMA) 2019 will be held at the old State Legislative Assembly on June 28 and 29.

It is organised by International Music House (IMH) in collaboration with the Ministry of Tourism, Arts, Culture, Youth and Sports.

Its minister Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah said among those performing would be Mandeville Stars and The Vocal Consort from Singapore, Taiwan Bamboo Orchestra from Taiwan, Kuala Lumpur Children Choir, and SIFMA Orchestra.

Abdul Karim rafak sembah takziah kepada Agong

May 22, 2019

KUCHING: Menteri Pelancongan, Kesenian, Kebudayaan, Belia dan Sukan Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah merafak sembah takziah kepada Yang di-Pertuan Agong, Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri'ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah atas kemangkatan ayahanda beliau, hari ini.

Paduka ayahanda Yang di-Pertuan Agong, iaitu Sultan Ahmad Shah Al-Musta’in Billah mangkat di Institut Jantung Negara (IJN), Kuala Lumpur, pada pukul 8.50 pagi.

"Ini satu berita yang menyedihkan, iaitu kemangkatan Paduka Ayahanda Yang di-Pertuan Agong.

Youths urged to join JCIM Top Outstanding Young Malaysians 2019 Awards

May 16, 2019

Abdul Karim giving a certificate of appreciation to Dato Wee Hong Seng (third, right), who is a past recipient of the award, during the press conference. Also seen is Lu (right).

KUCHING: Youth in the state are encouraged to join the Junior Chamber International Malaysia (JCIM) Top Outstanding Young Malaysians (TOYM) 2019 Awards ceremony which is still open for nomination.

Speaking to reporters at a press conference yesterday, Minister of Tourism, Arts, Culture, Youth and Sports Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah informed that the closing date for the award is May 31 this year and for the first time, the ceremony will be held in Kuching. 

The awards ceremony will be held on September 24, 2019 at Borneo Convention Centre Kuching (BCCK).

RFF returns to showcase Sarawak’s culture

May 15, 2019

Abdul Karim during a photo call with (from right) Sharzede; Assistant Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture Datuk Lee Kim Shin, festival director Joe Sidek and others.

KUCHING: The third edition of the Rainforest Fringe Festival (RFF) on July 5-12 will showcase Sarawak’s rich culture and heritage through an all-inclusive programme for both locals and visitors of all ages.

Sarawak Tourism Board chief executive officer Sharzede Salleh Askor said the festival serves as a prelude to the annual Rainforest World Music Festival (RWMF) and Borneo Jazz Festival.

“We are proud to showcase that Sarawak can be a hub of music tourism, unique cultural and arts experiences, and world-class festivals that are the best in the region. Rainforest Fringe Festival will showcase music, arts, crafts, photography, food and culture, both local and foreign, throughout Kuching City.

Karim and Talib demand Dr Ting to apologise

May 10, 2019

KUCHING: The Dewan Undangan Negeri erupted into chaos after Pujut assemblyman Dr Ting Tiong Choon slammed the Amanah Saham Sarawak (Assar) booklet during the Chief Minister’s winding up speech at the DUN yesterday.

Minister of Tourism, Arts, Culture, Youth and Sports Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah and Jepak assemblyman Datuk Talib Zulpilip who thought that he slammed the Standing Order (SO) booklet demanded that he apologise.

However, Dr Ting clarified that it was not the SO booklet but the Assar booklet that he slammed .

What’s the point of coverage if CM’s face is never shown, asks Sarawak minister

May 9, 2019

Sarawak Tourism, Arts, Culture, Youth and Sports Minister Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah at a press conference at the state legislative assembly today.

KUCHING: Sarawak State Tourism, Arts, Culture, Youth and Sports Minister Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah today defended his criticism of Radio Televisyen Malaysia (RTM) following a rebuttal of his claims by the state broadcaster.

Karim claimed RTM might have provided coverage for 181 activities involving the chief minister and other state ministers but it did not show their faces on TV.

“What I’m saying is not baseless. I have been watching. Sarawakians have been watching as well. We are not stupid. If the programmes are attended by the chief minister, you will definitely not see his face the next day.

Abdul Karim wants to meet Gobind over RTM’s lack of coverage issue

May 9, 2019

KUCHING: Minister of Tourism, Arts, Culture, Youth and Sports Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah said he would love to meet Minister of Communications and Multimedia Gobind Singh Deo over Radio Televisyen Malaysia’s (RTM) lack of coverage on the events in the state.

At the same time, Abdul Karim hoped that Gobind could make his own decision pertaining to the matter.

“Yes I would love to seen him (Gobind) or the Democratic Action Party (DAP) members from Sarawak can see him, but at the same time I also hope that he can make a decision on his own,” Abdul Karim told reporters today.

Abdul Karim: S’wak records 1.1 mln visitor arrivals from Jan to March

May 07, 2019

Abdul Karim holding his winding up speech for the Ministry of Tourism, Arts, Culture, Youth and Sports. Also seen is Assistant Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture Datuk Lee Kim Shin.

VISITOR arrivals to Sarawak showed an increase of 3.93 per cent for the first quarter of the year when compared to the same corresponding period in 2018.

Tourism, Arts, Culture, Youth and Sports Minister Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah said the state recorded a total of 1,117,843 arrival of visitors from January to March of which the main source of visitors came from Brunei Darussalam.

“The top five sources of visitors for Sarawak are Brunei Darussalam (304,823), Indonesia (94,303), the Philippines (14,419), China (9,983) and Singapore (9,024),” he said in his ministerial winding-up speech at the State Legislative Assembly (DUN) Sitting today.

We got your back, minister tells Sarawak athletes

May 1, 2019

Sim receives the incentives from Abdul Karim as Youth and Sports Assistant Minister Datuk Snowdan Lawan (left) and Sarawak Sports Corporation chief executive Dr Ong Kong Swee look on.

KUCHING: National swimmer Welson Sim has received a RM91,500 grant from the Sarawak government to cover his training expenses in Melbourne, Australia over the past four months since January.

The 21-year-old is currently training under Mack Horton – a Rio 2016 Olympic 400m freestyle champion – and has set his sights to qualify for the Tokyo Olympic next year.

“The State government will not let our athletes be left on the ledge, that’s why we have to come in,” said Minister of Tourism, Arts, Culture, Youth and Sports Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah when met by reporters accompanied by Sim at the lobby of State Legislative Assembly (DUN) Complex, Petra Jaya here yesterday.