FAS tidak dibiarkan ‘terkapai-kapai’

January 27, 2019

SEDIA: Pemain pasukan Liga Premier Sarawak menggunakan jersi rasmi pasukan pada pelancaran di Kuching petang semalam.

KUCHING: Kerajaan negeri memberi jaminan akan terus membantu Persatuan Bola Sepak Sarawak (FAS) dalam meringankan beban ditanggung badan induk bola sepak negeri itu.

Menteri Pelancongan, Kesenian, Kebudayaan, Belia dan Sukan, Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah berkata kerajaan negeri tidak membiarkan FAS ‘terkapai-kapai’ dalam mengurus pasukan bola sepak negeri ini menghadapi kejohanan peringkat kebangsaan (Liga Malaysia).

“Sudah menjadi tanggungawab kerajaan negeri memastikan setiap persatuan sukan dibantu terutamanya bola sepak merupakan sukan nombor satu di dunia termasuk di Sarawak,” katanya ketika merasmikan Majlis Pelancaran Jersi, Memperkenalkan Pemain dan Lagu Sarawak FA di sini semalam.

Kerajaan negeri janji dana tambahan untuk FAS

Januari 26, 2019

(Dari dua kiri) Raymond, Abdullah, Abdul Karim dan Snowdan memperagakan jersi rasmi Sarawak bagi musim 2019.

KUCHING: Persatuan Bolasepak Sarawak (FAS) mendapat suntikan moral selepas kerajaan negeri mempertimbangkan untuk menambah dana tahunan kepada RM4 juta setahun bagi keperluan mengurus pasukan bola sepak negeri.

Perkara itu diumumkan oleh Menteri Pelancongan, Kesenian, Kebudayaan, Belia dan Sukan Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah semasa Majlis Pelancaran Jersi, Memperkenalkan Pemain dan Lagu Sarawak FA bertempat di Pasar Raya Besar Mydin Petra Jaya hari ini.

“Setiap tahun kita memberi geran kepada FAS sebanyak RM3.5 juta. Tetapi FAS ada menulis kepada kita untuk ditambahkan, jadi saya sudah bawa ke atas dan tidak akan menjadi masalah,” jelas Abdul Karim.

Abdul Karim: Old DUN complex to become centre for performing arts

September 9, 2017

Abdul Karim signs on a giant mask on stage at the DBP Hall during the ceremony to launch the festival. Also seen is Abdullah Saidol (left).

KUCHING: The state government plans to develop the old state legislative assembly (DUN) complex here into a centre for performing arts.

According to Minister of Tourism, Arts, Culture, Youth and Sport Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah, works on modifying the old DUN complex for the proposed centre would commence at the end of this year.

He also commented that the new centre would have comfortable and modern seats for those who attend shows staged there.

Karim sworn in as minister

May 8, 2017

Taib (third right) together with Abang Johari (third left) and four new members of Sarawak cabinet posing for photo after the swearing-in ceremony.— Bernama photo

KUCHING: Two ministers and two assistant ministers who were appointed in the Sarawak cabinet on Saturday were sworn in before Head of State Tun Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud at a swearing in ceremony held at the Astana Negeri here.

Abdul Karim recieves his letter of appointment from Taib. — Bernama photo

DAP’s rhetoric just to win votes, say state BN leaders

March 7, 2017

KUCHING: It is easy for DAP to ‘dangle carrots or promise the sky’ to Sarawak and Sabah with pledges like returning 50 per cent of taxes from the two states if it comes to federal power, said PBB supreme council member Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah.

However, Abdul Karim said the question that needs to be answered is whether DAP can win and form the government with the number of seats it is contesting.

Abdul Karim was commenting on the announcement by DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng that the party will return 50 per cent of taxes collected from the two states if it comes to federal power.

Besides that, Lim said DAP would ensure that the two states get 20 per cent oil royalty and the states would have full autonomy in healthcare and education.

“Sabah and Sarawak are not fools to be toyed around with ‘sugar coated’ promises when we know Lim Guan Eng cannot speak for and on behalf of the whole Pakatan Harapan, and DAP on its own would never be able to form a government.

Abdul Karim warns against abuse of social media

November 9, 2016 

SIBU: Those abusing the online social media to create ill feeling between the federal and state governments or stir racial or religious tension were yesterday given a stern warning.

In telling them to watch out, Assistant Minister for Youth and Sports Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah urged the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) and police to monitor such activities and bring those responsible to book.

Abdul Karim was reacting to a fake Facebook posting that Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Adenan Satem had threatened to withdraw Sarawak from Malaysia, which went viral recently.

A statement from the Chief Minister’s Office on Monday refuted the claims made in the posting, which it said were intended to create a rift and ill-feeling between the state and federal governments.

It denied that Adenan had ever made any public statement to threaten to secede from Malaysia if the federal government did not solve some problems raised openly by the chief minister.

“Social media users who commit despicable acts of creating racial or religious tension, spreading untruth stories, promoting treasonable acts against the King or our beloved nation or pitting the states in the Federation against each other or against the federal government; they better beware.

“The long arm of the law will sooner or later catch up with them. Likewise, media users who tried to use the social media to create tension between the chief minister and the federal government… by maliciously quoting Adenan giving ultimatum to Putra Jaya to ‘return’ Sarawak’s right lest he (Adenan) would seek to take Sarawak out of Malaysia is most despicable and downright malicious,” Abdul Karim, who is Asajaya assemblyman, pointed out.

Dr M has lost his charm, says state BN politicians

July 16, 2016

KUCHING: Former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad's new party would not have an impact in the state in the coming general election.

A Supreme Council member of PBB Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah said: "...people are already fed up with Dr Mahathir, who is fighting for something so different from (what he fought for) when he was the prime minister."

"And now he is trying to pretend to be an angel,” added Abdul Karim in reference to the infamous ‘Lalang Operation’.

Abdul Karim was giving his comment to a local english daily recently.

Meanwhile the Deputy Chief Minister Tan Sri Datuk Amar Dr. James Masing was reported to have similar view on Mahathir.

He regarded the former premier as ‘having lost his charm’.

Masing believed that with the two Borneo states being the fixed deposits for BN, the coalition would continue to triumph in the next general election.

‘Stop the name calling, have respect for democracy’

May 12, 2016

KUCHING: Two BN leaders yesterday blasted ill-mannered netizens for insulting Sarawakians for making the ‘wrong’ choice in the May 7 polls.

Asajaya assembyman Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah described them as ‘stupid and moronic’ while state BN Backbenchers Club (BNBBC) chairman Abdullah Saidol called them ‘sore losers’.

In the election, BN won 72 of the 82 seats, while the DAP won seven and PKR three.

Re-elected Asajaya assembyman Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah said the people of Sarawak had made their choice, and their choice should be respected.

“No calling of names or using of derogatory terms to refer to Sarawakian voters should be done if this so-called netizens respect democracy. It is sad that there are uncultured netizens who think that only voting the opposition is the right move while voting for BN is wrong,” he said when contacted yesterday.

“How stupid and moronic can some netizens be. The recent Sarawak State Election is one of the cleanest and fairest elections ever.”

Abdul Karim pointed out that the dates of the dissolution, nomination and polling were all known beforehand and the opposition had ample time to prepare.

Foo is not a team player -Karim

April 18, 2016

Milton Foo "not a team player" for openly criticising Chief Minister Adenan Satem over selection of candidates for Sarawak election.

PETALING JAYA: Two PBB leaders have taken their fellow Barisan Nasional member, Milton Foo of SUPP, to task for lashing out at Sarawak Chief Minister Adenan Satem over his selection of candidates in the upcoming sate election.

The two are PBB Supreme Council members Abdul Karim Hamzah and Abdullah Saidol.

Karim said Foo was a political novice who did not deserve to be a BN candidate as he did not know how to be a team player. 

“His (Foo’s) allegations and comments are very serious, provocative, and could affect the good relationship between SUPP and other BN coalition partners, especially PBB,” Borneo Post Online reported him as saying.

Karim said PBB members were angry and called on Foo, BN’s pending candidate, to apologise to Adenan.

Abdullah, meanwhile, said Foo’s questioning of Adenan’s credibility and sincerity as state BN chairman was truly shocking.

He said he was unsure if Foo had secured the “blessings” of his SUPP superiors before making such naive remarks as all state BN members had many opportunities to convey any disagreement or differing view with Adenan.

Brickbats from PBB leaders for Milton Foo

April 18, 2016

KUCHING: BN-SUPP Pending candidate Milton Foo’s outburst over Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Adenan Satem’s decision on BN direct candidates has earned himself brickbats from two PBB leaders.

PBB Supreme Council member Datuk Abdul Karim Hamzah in responding to the allegation, said such statement by a “political novice” who had been announced as a BN candidate was just unfortunate.

“Personally, to me, he doesn’t deserve to be a BN flag bearer and candidate if he does not know how to be a team player. His allegations and comments are very serious, provocative, and could affect the good relationship between SUPP and other BN coalition partners, especially PBB.

“To say that PBB members are not angry is an understatement. We are! He should apologise to our CM for this uncalled for remark,” Abdul Karim, who is BN-PBB candidate for Asajaya, said in a statement yesterday.

Another PBB Supreme Council member Abdullah Saidol said Foo’s open comment in questioning Adenan’s credibility and sincerity as state BN chairman were truly shocking and deemed politically inappropriate and rude.

“Not sure whether he had secured ‘blessing’ from his superior in SUPP before making such statement. If not, then he should consult his party leaders first before making such naive remarks which shows his ignorance.”

Abdullah, who is BN-PBB candidate for Semop remarked that Foo’s choice of word in his statement was directly undermining Adenan’s leadership, such that he (Abdullah) could not help but to describe Foo’s attitude as ‘kurang ajar’ (no manners), self-centred and discourteous.

DAP ‘desperate’, running out of ideas – PBB leaders

March 28, 2016

KUCHING: Two PBB leaders Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah and Abdullah Saidol shot down attempts by the state DAP to make the coming state election a referendum against the Goods and Services Tax (GST) and described it as ‘desperate’.

Abdul Karim, who is also PBB supreme council member and Asajaya assemblyman, said such attempt showed DAP was running out of issues against Barisan Nasional (BN) for the state election.

“The GST is a tax imposed by the federal government, whereas an election is a venue for the ‘rakyat’ (people) to choose who should be their elected representative or YB and, which party should be the government for the next five years.

“By proposing GST as the ‘referendum’ to gauge acceptance and popularity shows how desperate DAP is in trying to win votes. Next, probably they would say the recent heavy rain and flooding are because of BN government’s inability to stop the rain,” said the Assistant Minister of Housing and Assistant Minister of Youth Development.

“I am sure the ‘rakyat’ are not easily influenced by this cheap tactic,” he added.

He explained GST, introduced in April 1 last year, had helped the government tremendously especially when the price of oil and gas had gone down so low and affected the country’s development plans.

“We are lucky that Malaysia has good leaders that could foresee this coming and introduced GST as an alternative. Even Brunei and other oil producing countries are feeling the pinch from this low oil price and Malaysia is not spared.

PBB leaders tick off DAP’s Chong for playing ‘dumb’

February 1, 2016

KUCHING: Two Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) leaders have ticked off DAP Sarawak chairman Chong Chieng Jen for trying to conjure up a negative perception that the Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Adenan Satem was dictating the nomination and polling dates.

PBB supreme council member Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah, who is also Asajaya assemblyman, said he was irked by Chong for playing dumb on the Election Commission’s freedom to decide the nomination and polling dates.

He pointed out the remark made by Chong on the nomination and polling dates proposed by the Chief Minister was ‘petty and ridiculous’.

Adenan coy on Uggah taking over Bukit Saban seat

January 25, 2016

Jabu gives the thumbs-up while posing for a group photo with his wife Dato Sri Empiang Jabu (fourth right), Dr Rundi (fifth right) and others. — Photos by Muhammad Rais Sanusi

KUCHING: Election fever in the state is beginning to heat up as rumours are swelling that there is a possibility Betong MP Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas might swap seat with Bukit Saban assemblyman Robert Lawson Chuat in the coming state election.

However, PBB president Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Adenan Satem was decidedly coy on the matter and merely hinted that there was a possibility that this might happen.

“There is always the possibility but it does not only apply to the state elected representative for Bukit Saban,” he told a press conference after chairing the PBB Supreme Council meeting at the party’s headquarters yesterday.

This led reporters to ask if other MPs from Sarawak including Petra Jaya MP Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof might contest during the state election.

Not one to be persuaded so easily, Adenan, who is also Chief Minister, quipped: “Your guess is as good as mine.”

The rumour mill has been on overdrive for the past two weeks as there are whispers from the grassroots that Uggah’s move to contest the state seat is to pave the way for him to become the next deputy chief minister.

Another rumour heard from the grapevine was that Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Alfred Jabu Numpang might vacate his Layar seat to make way for his son Gerald Rentap.

Devolution of power means Putrajaya confident in state leadership

September 17, 2015 

KUCHING: The first phase of devolution of power announced by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak shows the federal administration has confidence in the ability of the state leadership under Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Adenan Satem.

PBB Supreme Council member Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah said the confidence was a good sign for Sarawakians, apart from upholding the spirit of the Malaysia Agreement signed in 1963.

“This is really good and happy news for all Malaysians, especially when it was announced in conjunction with Malaysia Day. This makes the celebration even more meaningful,” he said when contacted yesterday.

Abdul Karim, who is also Asajaya assemblyman, was commenting on Najib’s statement on Wednesday on the federal government’s agreement to give authority to federal government directors in the state to make major decisions without having to refer to their counterparts in Putrajaya.

Najib added that the state government would also be empowered so that priority for projects involving rural areas, infrastructure such as schools, hospitals and so on could be decided and implemented by them.

Abdul Karim, who is also Assistant Minister of Social Development, said the decision of the federal government also showed what was said by Adenan was true.

“Our chief minister was correct when he said there was no prime minister before this who has done many things for Sarawak like Najib.

State DAP gets brickbats for unsettling Bersih rally

September 1, 2015 

KUCHING: Several Barisan Nasional (BN) leaders have taken the state DAP, notably its chairman Chong Chieng Jen, to task for trying to turn the Bersih rally here into something it is not meant to be.

PBB Supreme Council member Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah said Chong’s outburst against the rally organiser showed he was a ‘leader in desperation’, while state BN Backbenchers Club (BNBBC) chairman Abdullah Saidol and SUPP Youth publicity chief Milton Foo noted that the party had hijacked the gathering.

Abdul Karim said while Chong, who is also Bandar Kuching MP and Kota Sentosa assemblyman, had the right to call for Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak’s resignation, it was not in sync with the objectives of the rally.

“I thought Bersih 4 was a rally calling for, among others, clean government, transparency, and good governance. The organiser is the one that keeps to their promises to the authority that comes with the clearance for the rally.

“It was not a venue just for the DAP, but for all. Chong wanted to hijack the Kuching Bersih rally but the organiser was not stupid. They could smell the rat in their midst and ended the rally early before the DAP and Chong turned it into a DAP rally,” he said when contacted yesterday.

Abdullah said it was pleasant that the rally organiser kept their promises to ensure a peaceful gathering.

“Chong confidently said the crowd would be overwhelming, of no less than 10,000 people. But it seemed the rally in Kuching received only a cool reception.

Abdul Karim: Sarawak, Sabah are like twins

June 10, 2015

KUCHING: The contribution of RM1 million and offer of logistics assistance by the Sarawak state government to Sabah in the wake of last Friday’s earthquake reflects the closeness of Sarawak to its neighbour Sabah, Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah said.

In fact, added the Assistant Minister of Youth Development when extending his heartfelt condolences to the Sabah earthquake victims yesterday, the two states were like twin brothers.

“Any pain that one incurs would be felt by the other brother. Our heartfelt condolence to the victims of the Sabah earthquake,” Abdul Karim, who is also Assistant Minister of Housing, said when contacted yesterday.

The Asajaya assemblyman was commenting on the state government’s gesture in donating RM1 million and offering logistics assistance to Sabah on Monday.

Second Resource Planning and Environment Minister Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan represented the state government in paying a courtesy call on Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Seri Panglima Musa Aman to convey sympathy to Sabah in relation to the 5.9 magnitude earthquake that had so far claimed 18 lives.

Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Adenan Satem in his Facebook posting said Sarawak sympathised with what happened in the neighbouring state and hoped the affected families would be patient in facing the tragedy.

Adenan’s chief political secretary Abdullah Saidol said the chief minister’s decision to assist Sabah was not just a diplomatic act but also represented his natural gesture as a caring person.

New age for EPF withdrawal is a silly proposition - Karim

April 17, 2015

KUCHING: The proposal to extend the age for withdrawal of Employees Provident Fund (EPF) from the present 55 to 60 years has received flak from contributors.

While some said it was a “silly proposal” there were contributors who described the suggestion as “frustrating”, while others proposed that an acceptable mechanism be worked out.

On the other hand, Assistant Minister of Youth Development Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah said he personally disagreed with the idea and was puzzled why someone came up with the ‘silly preposition’.

“I’m just puzzled who came up with this silly proposition…55 is a good age as that is the year of retirement and contributors can opt whether to take out their money in toto at that age or leave it in EPF to reap more dividends,” he said in his WhatsApp message yesterday.

He was commenting on the call by Malaysian Trade Unions Congress (MTUC) to support EPF’s retirement withdrawal age proposal.

Abdul Karim, who is also Assistant Minister of Housing and Asajaya assemblyman, urged MTUC not to “change the goal post” and frustrate contributors.

“Don’t frustrate contributors as those money kept in EPF are contributors’ money and all through the years of employment, the contributors had been contributing and maybe have specific plan on what to use with the money once they reach 55,” he asserted.

Galeri: First Meeting of Ministry of Communications and Multimedia Coordination Committee (JPKKMM)

January 22, 2015

Datuk Amar Abang Johari Tun Openg (second left) browsing through some photos on his past activities in an album after the presentation by acting state information director Zaini Mohamad (right). Seen with him (from left) are chief political secretary to the chief minister Abdullah Saidol and Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah.

DAP resorts to claiming credit for what BN has done

November 22, 2014
 

“How could the DAP claim credit for the electricity tariff reduction?" Tuan Haji Abdul Karim Rahman Hmzah

KUCHING: State Democratic Action Party (DAP) is bankrupt of issues and has to resort to claiming credit for what the Barisan Nasional (BN) has done for the people’s wellbeing, particularly on the electricity tariff issue.

State BN Backbenchers Club (BNBBC) chairman Abdullah Saidol, described state DAP chief Chong Chieng Jen as a ‘noisy spectator at the football stadium -making expert comments more anxiously than the actual team coach.’

The bone of contention is that Chong had recently attributed the state BN’s resolution to reduce electricity tariff to his party’s (DAP) signature campaign, which he claimed to contain 110,000 signatories.

“Have you been to the stadium to see a football match? The guy next to you will never stop commenting and give his expert opinion on football theory and how the players should play the game and score. He is more anxious than the actual coach. For all you know, this guy has never made it to his school team,” Abdullah said of Chong’s claim that the DAP signature campaign had prompted Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Adenan Satem to announce the tariff reduction at Wednesday.

“They are noisy spectators and you have seen that during the DUN (State Legislative Assembly) sitting. That is all they are good at. All the pleasant announcements made by the Adenan during the DUN sitting are all geared towards people’s wellbeing. Obviously this time around DAP is out of political ideas. If you scrutinise closely the things DAP said during DUN sitting or outside it, all they were saying and doing was about promoting suspicions, ill feeling, vexatious and frivolous claims.
I bet more is to come from them,” said Abdullah, who is also chief political secretary to the Chief Minister.

“But having said all these, the DAP must be given ‘credit’ for claiming credit for BN good deeds,” he said in jest.

When contacted yesterday, Assistant Minister of Youth Development (Urban) Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah described DAP’s claim, attributing the tariff reduction to its signature campaign as laughable.

Syabas pasukan Samarahan

October 4, 2014

GEMBIRA: Aidel (barisan belakang tiga kanan), Abdullah, Abdul Karim dan Haidel meraikan kejayaan pasukan Samarahan menjuarai Piala Sarawak 2014 bersama jurulatih dan pemain-pemain.

KUCHING: Penaung Per-satuan Bola Sepak Samara-han (PBBS), Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah melahirkan rasa bangga dengan kejayaan pasukan Samarahan menjuarai Piala Sarawak 2014.

Beliau yang juga Menteri Muda Pembangunan Belia (Bandar) berkata, penan-tian selama enam tahun untuk mengecapi semula trofi berprestij itu menjadi realiti berkat kegigihan serta komitmen persatuan, juru-latih dan pemain-pemain sendiri.

“Saya berharap kejuaraan Piala Sarawak terus kekal di Samarahan pada kejohanan akan datang,” katanya pada majlis meraikan kejayaan pasukan itu di sini malam kelmarin.

“Jika kita fokus, tiada apa yang dapat menghalang kita untuk terus mencapai ke-jayaan,” tambahnya.

Abdul Karim yang juga Ahli Dewan Undangan Neg-eri (ADUN) Asajaya berkata, kejayaan itu turut dikongsi semua warga Samarahan yang amat mengharapkan pasukan itu dapat mengem-balikan zaman kegemilangan seperti yang pernah mereka kecapi dahulu.

Tambahnya, pemain-pe-main harus mengekalkan keyakinan dan semangat perjuangan tinggi agar ke-juaraan terus berada dalam genggaman mereka sampai bila-bila.

Pada majlis sama, jurulatih dan pemain-pemain meneri-ma habuan insentif keme-nangan yang disampaikan oleh Abdul Karim.