Abdul Karim: Setting up district-level MCPF the right move

March 31, 2015

SIBU: Assistant Minister of Youth Development Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah praised the effort to set up the Malaysia Crime Prevention Foundation (MCPF) in all districts nationwide yesterday.

Abdul Karim, who is Asajaya assemblyman, was commenting on Home Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi’s statement that MCPF would set up branches in districts nationwide to curb crimes involving juveniles aged between seven and 14 years old.

“I do agree that crimes are being committed by those in the younger age group, and though it has not reached a critical stage, this is something for us to ponder and address because these young offenders will be getting older and we do not want them to continue their bad habits,” he added.

He pointed out that schools, NGOs (non-governmental bodies), and especially parents, had a big role to play in moulding youths so that they would not end up a menace to society.

“They must be guided to be responsible citizens even when they are still young,” he stressed.

“Hopefully all members of society could play their part as this cannot be addressed by the police or schools,” added Abdul Karim.

Ahmad Zahid Hamidi reportedly said crimes involving juveniles rose despite a drop in the 2014 crime index to 12.6 per cent since the Prevention of Crime Act 2013 was introduced.

Sarawak expects to get fair share of affordable houses

November 1, 2013

SIBU: Assistant Housing Minister Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah expressed optimism that Sarawak will set a fair share of the 223,000 affordable houses planned for 2014.

“The provision of affordable houses has been ongoing by the present state and federal BN governments all these years and 2014 is not an exception,” Abdul Karim, who is Assistant Minister of Youth Development and Asajaya assemblyman told The Borneo Post yesterday.

He was reacting to Sarawak Division Cuepacs secretary Ahmad Malie’s call for fair allocations of the 223,000 affordable houses announced by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak under Budget 2014.

Malie said doing so could make it easier for the people, including civil servants to buy their own houses.

He added that the result of the escalating prices of houses, particularly in Kuching, Bintulu and Miri, was that people especially those in the public sector could no longer afford them.

Malie said Najib should look into this problem as there were many people desperate for their own homes because house rentals were also going up.

“The state Housing Ministry is aware of the spiralling cost of houses which is due to increased demand and increased cost of building materials and is cushioning this increase by building more affordable houses especially in areas where the demand for houses are higher,” said Abdul Karim.

 

House prices expected to stabilise with govt building more affordable ones

September 3, 2013

BOOMING INDUSTRY: Strong demand for houses evidenced by spiralling prices.

SIBU: House prices are rising, particularly in Bintulu which housing developers are focusing on, noted Housing Assistant Minister Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah whose ministry was concerned about the rising cost of houses.

He said the situation could be mitigated with the government building more affordable houses.

“It is a matter of time before house prices there stabilise,” he said, pointing out that currently demand exceeded supply.

Abdul Karim, who is also Assistant Minister of Youth Development and Asajaya assemblyman, said the vibrant housing industry, especially in Bintulu, reflected government success in developing the fishing village into an industrial town.

Meanwhile, Sarawak Bumiputera Teachers Union (KGBS) urged the state government to provide affordable housing to its members in Bintulu.