Sarawak PH accepting Bersatu won’t change anything – Karim

February 24, 2019

KUCHING: Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) vice president Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah says the state Pakatan Harapan (PH) decision to accept Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu) will not change its political scenario.

He pointed out that even though Bersatu has joined the coalition in the state, it would still be dominated by Democratic Action Party (DAP).

“Any different from the previous set up?…nothing because it will still be dominated by DAP and the state PH chairman Chong Chieng Jen calling the shot and dictating to other Bumiputera based parties,” he said yesterday.

Abdul Karim clarifies ‘beggars can’t be choosers’ remark

July 17, 2018

Abdul Karim (second right) shaking hands with Wong after the joint press conference. 

KUCHING: Minister of Tourism, Arts, Culture, Youth and Sports Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah had to clear the air on his remark ‘beggars cannot be choosers’, which is believed to have offended some constituents in the opposition areas.

At a press conference yesterday, he said he did not refer to any particular person and clarified that “sometimes quotes are given in jest”.

“Definitely, the honourable members from DAP (Democratic Action Party) and PKR (Parti Keadilan Rakyat) are not beggars, they are elected representatives,” he said at the media centre after delivering his ministerial winding-up speech at the State Legislative Assembly.

Chong should focus more on Sarawak’s welfare than on polls — Abdul Karim

July 17, 2018

SIBU: Deputy Minister of Domestic Trade and Consumerism Chong Chieng Jen should focus more on the welfare of Sarawak and its development, than on politics and elections, says Minister of Tourism, Arts, Culture, Youths and Sports Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah.

In this regard, Abdul Karim points out that there is a long way to go before the expiry of the Sarawak Legislative Assembly (DUN)’s present term.

“The DAP (Democratic Action Party) Sarawak only has politics in mind. YB Chong should get down to work as a deputy minister, and should not bother thinking about the state election – unless he is also thinking about wanting to be the Chief Minister,” he said yesterday in response to Chong’s statement about DAP Sarawak staking its claim on 29 out of the total 82 seats in the next Sarawak state election, which might be called in the first quarter of 2021.

PPBM intends to split Sarawakians, asserts PBB leader

June 27, 2018

KUCHING, June 27: Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) vice-president Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah believed Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia’s (PPBM) intention to expand to Sarawak was to split Sarawakians.

The ultimate aim, he added, was to seize control of the state after dividing its people into small factions.

“It (PPBM) just wants to come over to split us into small fractions. It is here to split the Bumiputera. It does not want to see Sarawakians staying united,” Abdul Karim told DayakDaily today.

No reason for PPBM to enter Sarawak, unless Mahathir doesn't trust the state PH

June 26, 2018

KUCHING, June 26: Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (PPBM)’s plan to enter Sarawak can be perceived as Pakatan Harapan (PH) in the peninsula not trusting its Sarawak counterpart.

This is how state Minister of Tourism, Arts, Culture, Youth and Sports Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah puts it: “Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s recent announcement that PPBM is considering opening up branches in Sarawak could mean that he does not believe (in) the local base PH coalition.”

Speaking to reporters after attending the Rainforest Fringe Festival 2018 briefing, Abdul Karim opined that since the Democratic Action Party (DAP), Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) and Parti Amanah Negara (Amanah) were already here, there should be no reason for Dr Mahathir to bring his party (PPBM) to Sarawak, unless he does not trust the local base PH.

Wong, others can also manage and run a state government, not just DAP!

June 11, 2018

SIBU: Padungan assemblyman Wong King Wei must have faith in the Sarawak government’s administration with regards to devolution of power and autonomy.

Minister of Tourism, Arts, Culture, Youth and Sports Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah in saying this highlighted the fact that the Sarawak government has been given very good rating by credit rating agencies such as Standard and Poor, and RAM, among others.

“King Wei must have faith in the state government. Administering a state government is not like administering a coffee shop or a household.

Chong slammed over remarks on autonomy, devolution of power

May 21, 2018

SIBU: Minister of Tourism, Arts, Culture, Youth and Sports Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah has slammed state Pakatan Harapan (PH) chairman Chong Chieng Jen for trying to hoodwink Sarawakians.

The former points out that autonomy and devolution of powers have nothing to do with Democratic Action Party (DAP) – of which Chong is the Sarawak chairman.

“Who is YB Chong and DAP trying to hoodwink? Autonomy and devolution of powers are about decentralisation of powers from the central government to the state government.

Don’t act like a minister, Abd Karim tells Chong

May 18, 2018

SIBU: State Pakatan Harapan (PH) chairman  Chong Chieng Jen should be patient and wait for his appointment before giving policy direction.

In urging Chong to take things slowly yesterday, Minister of Tourism, Arts, Culture, Youth and Sports Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah pointed out that Chong is not even a minister or spokesman for PH, but acted like one.

He added that Chong must not act arrogant, thinking as if DAP is the government of the day in Sarawak.

“Who has appointed YB Chong and DAP to be the judge and the executor?

‘Slamming of Umno-PAS pact by opposition reeks of hypocrisy’

October 15, 2017

SIBU: DAP Sarawak chairman Chong Chieng Jen and state PKR chairman Baru Bian should not become the ‘stooges of unhealthy politics of the west’, and that they need to relook at themselves before questioning Sarawak Barisan Nasional (BN).

In making this statement, Minister of Tourism, Arts, Culture, Youths and Sports Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah said the condemnation by Chong and Baru of the purported Umno-PAS alliance only showed their hypocrisy, in that PAS was once under the Pakatan pact.

He recalled that when PAS was in Pakatan, it was regarded as a loyal partner and nothing was mentioned about it being ‘an evil party’.

Abdul Karim foresees Pakatan Harapan Sarawak breaking up soon

March 21, 2017

SIBU: It is just a matter of time before members of the newly formed Pakatan Harapan Sarawak scramble for seats and fight each other as they have different agendas and goals.

Hence, whether it is Pakatan Rakyat or Pakatan Harapan or Pakatan with or without PAS or Pakatan with or without Amanah makes no difference to Sarawak Barisan Nasional (BN) or the people of Sarawak, said Assistant Minister for Youth and Sports Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah.

“It is just a loose pact of political parties which have separate agendas and goals in their struggle. 

This loose pact is just meant for the 14th general election…unlike BN, where the coalition is permanent and having a common BN struggle for the people’s wellbeing and the nation.

“Pakatan pact can be easily summarised as a pack of political parties sleeping together but having different dreams. 

PBB man sees paranoia in Sarawak DAP chief

March 19, 2017

PETALING JAYA: A PBB official has dismissed Sarawak DAP leader Chong Chieng Jen’s recent remark about religious teachers as the ranting of a person showing signs of paranoia.

Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah, a member of the Sarawak ruling party’s supreme council, said Chong was generalising when he claimed that religious teachers from Peninsular Malaysia would change the thinking of Muslims in the state.

In a statement he released on Friday, Chong called for a halt in the import of Islamic religious teachers from Peninsular Malaysia, saying he feared that they would influence local Muslims to adopt their ways of thinking and living.

Speaking to FMT, Abdul Karim acknowledged that Sarawak Muslims were more liberal than their counterparts on the peninsula, but he said Islamic teachings were the same everywhere in Malaysia and only paranoia could have caused Chong to think otherwise.

He said the sensitive matter of religion was seldom used in political discourse in Sarawak and it wasn’t right for Chong to do so.

Abdul Karim raps Chong for unwarranted comment on Islam

March 14, 2017

KUCHING: PBB Supreme Council member Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah has asked state DAP chairman Chong Chieng Jen to do a little research before commenting on Islam and Islamic teaching in Sarawak.

Abdul Karim, who is Assistant Minister of Housing, was lambasting Chong over his statement that the 433 Peninsular Malaysian Islamic religious teachers to be brought in to teach in Sarawak would be bringing in their version of Islamic teaching and indoctrinate children in the state with the Umno-version of Islamic teaching and further cause racial segregation.

“Before commenting on Islam and Islamic teaching in Sarawak, it is better for Chong to do a little research on what Islam is. 

Karim wants DAP and Chong do homework

March 14, 2017

KUCHING: PBB Supreme Council member Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah told DAP and its State Chairman Chong Chieng Jen to do some homework first before saying that the Chief Minister Datuk Amar Abang Johari Tun Openg’s warning to all state BN assemblypersons as a mere rhetoric.

He said yesterday the opposition was just good in making noises, which was why voters knew they were not capable of solving their problems.

“We have seen many elections in Sarawak. The fact that in every election contested, the voters voted for BN shows that the people are happy with BN and the candidates that BN placed in those constituencies. 

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.

THANK YOU to Sarawak PKR and its chairman Baru Bian

January 27, 2017

KUCHING: Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) has been credited for its commitment in not contesting in the upcoming Tanjong Datu by-election.

Assistant Minister for Housing Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah said by not contesting in the by-election, PKR had shown maturity in their political struggle and also showed that it did not oppose just for the sake of opposing.

“I would like to thank the state PKR and Baru Bian (Ba Kelalan assemblyman and state PKR chairman) for their gracious commitment in not contesting

in Tanjong Datu by-election as a mark of respect for (Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri) Adenan (Satem) and for his effort to bring back our diminished rights. Such effort will go a long way in uniting Sarawakians,” he told The Borneo Post yesterday.

Baru, in announcing the party’s decision not to contest in Tanjong Datu by-election on Wednesday, said it was a gesture to let Chief Minister Datuk Amar Abang Johari Tun Openg and the state government continue implementing the vision and policies that Adenan made for Sarawak while he was the chief minister.

Rumour about local PKR leaders is no surprise to state BN

October 15, 2016

SIBU: The ‘hot rumour’ about three local PKR leaders leaving the peninsular-based party to join a local party – Parti Bumi Kenyalang (PBK) presents no surprise to the state Barisan Nasional (BN).

It is said that these PKR leaders want a stronger voice, seeing that they could not do so if they stick to the same platform.

Assistant Minister for Youth and Sports Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah wasn't surprised with the rumours stressing that ‘anything is possible in politics’.

“Who would imagine an ex-Umno and BN chairman Tun (Dr) Mahathir (Mohamad) is now ‘hugging’ his nemesis (Datuk Seri) Anwar (Ibrahim), (Lim) Kit Siang and (Lim) Guan Eng?

“It is the same with Sarawak PKR leaders. We could see them out of PKR – who knows one day, they might be sitting with us in BN,” said Abdul Karim, who is Asajaya assemblyman and also a supreme council of PBB – the state BN backbone party.

Adding on, he reckoned that state PKR leaders would need to relook their struggle.

Abdul Karim also pointed out that what Sarawak and Sarawakians needed and hoped for now would be for political parties and leaders to fight for the return of state rights, which appeared to be diminishing over the years.

Abd Karims laughs at Ling’s call for MACC probe

October 07, 2016

SIBU: Assistant Minister for Youth and Sports Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah laughs off DAP Sarawak secretary Alan Ling’s call for Malaysian Anti Corruption Commission (MACC) to investigate the frequent political defections in Sabah.

“I am amused by Sarawak DAP secretary Alan Ling calling for MACC to probe into the mass defection of elected representatives and senior party members from PKR and DAP in Sabah.

“I believe there must be good reasons for the key leaders to switch camps or opt to leave their original parties and the only thing I can think of is that they have given up hope on the struggle of their original parties,” he said when contacted yesterday.

Ling reportedly claimed there was a need to do so (investigation) as many electorates perceived those ‘frogging’ as money politics at play.

He made the call on Wednesday following the exit of several Sabah PKR and DAP leaders last week, and further said he believed many cases of politicians quitting for other platforms to champion their struggles were genuine, but not all of them.

Abdul Karim, who is Asajaya assemblyman, added: “Those who moved are no ordinary members. Many are YBs holding key positions in their respective parties. They are also professionals in their own right.

“Insinuating that they are being bought and calling for MACC to probe into their financial background is an insult to these leaders.”

Abd Karim: State BN committed to protect Sarawak’s land rights

September 29, 2016

SIBU: Sarawak BN is committed to protect the state’s land rights; hence, all federal projects involving land were vetted accordingly before approvals were given.

Citing the ‘Rumah Mesra’ scheme by Syarikat Perumahan Negara Berhad (SPNB) as an example, Assistant Minister for Housing Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah said the project was slightly delayed because the state government objected to native land for affordable housing being charged to the Federal Land Commissioner.

“SPNB had to accept Sarawak’s proposal for the land status being maintained and not charged to a federal agency,” he told The Borneo Post yesterday in response to a statement by Pending assemblyman Violet Yong recently.

“This shows how committed Sarawak BN government is towards preserving state rights.”

Yong had called on the government to ensure the state’s land rights were not eroded by the 1Malaysia People’s Housing (PR1MA) programme.

She said PR1MA was a federal initiative, but it involved using state land.

In thanking Yong for her concern, Abdul Karim said in the case of PR1MA, approvals had to go through the State Planning Authority (SPA); therefore, there is no question of the state’s rights being infringed.

Karim surprised with Chong's ignorance

September 15, 2016

KUCHING: State DAP chairman Chong Chieng Jen is urged to go through matters contained in the Federal List, State List and Concurrent List prior to making any statement that would eventually expose his ignorance and lack of knowledge on federal-state relationship.

Assistant Minister for Housing Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah said this in rebutting Chong’s claims that Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Adenan Satem’s talk on autonomy for education was merely hot air and more of paying lip service rather than taking real action on matters regarding the development of English education.

He said he was surprised that Chong, as an MP, was unaware that education was contained in the Federal List of the Malaysian Constitution.

“Any change in policy or request by Sarawak or Sabah on the subject has to be referred to the federal government. It is on that matter that the chief minister has mentioned that he wished to apply to the federal government for approval of more private English-medium schools in Sarawak knowing fully well that the approving authority is in Kuala Lumpur,” he said in a statement received here yesterday.

Abdul Karim, who is also Assistant Minister for Youth and Sports, reiterated that this had nothing to do with ‘paying lip service’ as alleged by Chong or that the state Barisan Nasional (BN) was merely spinning stories and creating false hope.

“At the very least, the federal government would lend an ear if the request comes from the chief minister or the state BN. If ever Chong or DAP Sarawak were to knock on the federal government’s door, it will never be opened.”

He also said Chong’s latest outburst showed a sign of desperation from the state DAP leader to undermine Adenan’s efforts as well as to seek cheap publicity.

Think like a Malaysian, DAP’s Chong told

September 1, 2016

PBB Supreme Council member takes Sarawak DAP chief to task for asking state government to not celebrate August 31.

PETALING JAYA: A PBB leader has slammed DAP’s Chong Chieng Jen as being petty and narrow-minded for having recently called for the Sarawak Government not to celebrate Merdeka Day on August 31.

PBB Supreme Council member Abdul Karim Hamzah told FMT that Chong, as a parliamentarian and lawyer, should know the history of Malaysia’s formation, and understand his role in uniting Malaysians.

He was responding to the Sarawak DAP chief’s statement that Sarawakian taxpayer money should not be wasted on celebrating August 31 in the state as the date had no historical significance compared with July 22, when Sarawak achieved self-governance.

Karim said there was no denying that many were confused with the various dates pertaining to the independence of Malaya, Sabah and Sarawak, as well as the formation of Malaysia.

However, rather than trying to cause a rift among Malaysians by asking the State Government to not celebrate August 31, Chong should be explaining the history of Malaysia’s formation.

Karim, who is the state assistant minister of housing said the nation’s founding fathers had agreed to August 31 being Independence Day.