Young voters trendsetters of future political landscape

November 8, 2013

 

Being more educated, liberal in outlook, analytical…they are a force to be reckoned with. - Tuan Haji Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah

SIBU: Educated young voters who have the analytical strength will be the trendsetters of the future political landscape, according to some Barisan Nasional leaders here.

PRS vice-president Datuk Mong Dagang yesterday said both the government and the opposition were eagerly engaging the youth who were the so-called fence sitters.

“I believe in the last parliamentary election, younger voters played important role and did in fact influence the results of the election.

“The entry of younger voters would definitely play an important political role in deciding who will be in power. But I believe the younger voters, who are educated would be able to make wise decision.

“They know what the government is doing and at the same time what the opposition does,” noted Mong, who is Agriculture (Research and Marketing) Assistant Minister and Bukit Begunan assemblyman.

He was commenting on observations made by a seasoned political scientist Associate Prof Dr Bridget Welsh that one of the major trends in the political landscape of Sarawak was the demographic shift to younger voters.

Welsh expounded that more younger voters were fence-sitters, so the next election was really about how voters under-30 vote.

Karim doesn't want Sarawak only seen as relevant during election and left behind after that

October 23, 2013

 

We don’t want to be seen relevant only for the elections and be left behind after that. - Tuan Haji Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah

SIBU: Local BN leaders are banking on hope that Sarawak will be given a bigger share of the pie in the forthcoming Budget 2014 to speed up infrastructure development in rural areas.

PRS vice president Datuk Mong Dagang for one said yesterday a bigger allocation would go a long way not only towards strengthening infrastructure facilities and connectivity in rural areas but improving and providing clean water supply as well as electricity connection to longhouses in these places.

“Of particular importance is upgrading of schools, which in many cases are in dilapidated conditions. Of course, all of us expect substantial amount to be allocated for upgrading of the Pan Borneo Trunk Road,” said Mong, who is Agriculture (Research and Marketing) Assistant Minister and Bukit Begunan assemblyman.

He was asked if the state would be given bigger allocation in the national budget given its sterling performance in the recent general election.

PBB supreme council member Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah said Sarawak being a big state and with much basic infrastructure still not in place yet, expressed fervent hope that the Prime Minister and Federal Government could expedite development in these areas.

He added this was more so as the rural areas of Sarawak had been instrumental in the very existence of the BN government in Malaysia and must not be overlooked.

The state, he pointed out, still lagged behind in so many quarters.

DAP might be worse than Hitler or Polpot if the party formed the next government

March 16, 2013

SIBU: Several BN leaders were stunned by the ‘swift justice’ imposed by DAP on its six members.

“The tough measure doesn’t bode well with the party that claims to profess democracy,” they said, adding that cracks were showing in the party.

“I was stunned and shocked by this decision of a party that supposedly professes to practise democracy and freedom of speech,” commented PBB supreme council member Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah.

He said he would expect such an action coming only from a communist or an autocratic government.

“The ‘sin’ of the six members was for voicing their disagreement towards the central DAP’s decision on the choice of candidate and surely needn’t warrant expulsion! Is the Sarawak DAP being run by one or two autocratic leaders who dictate the direction of the party?

“Where’s the transparency? I can’t imagine if they are the one managing the government. It might be worse than Hitler or PolPot!” Abdul Karim remarked.

According to press reports, the six were sacked with immediate effect for insubordination and repeatedly tarnishing the party’s image.

Transparency is a taboo for oppositions -Karim

February 26, 2013

“I hope all right thinking Malaysian can see for themselves now…whether the opposition are really sincere or a better party and leaders than BN.” - Tuan Haji Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah 

SIBU: The opposition’s refusal to sign the Transparency International Malaysia’s Election Integrity Pledge unmasked their true colours.

SUPP Sibu branch vice chairman Daniel Ngieng said yesterday this clearly proved that the opposition had failed to walk the talk in calling for transparency.

“I don’t understand why it is so difficult for them to sign it. This shows they are not serious about transparency but merely use it as a political issue to fish for votes.

“They must stand up to be accountable. And, to sign that pledge is at least showing their sincerity to have a clean election,” Ngieng remarked.

He was commenting on Bernama report quoting the Election Commission (EC) as saying that it was a shame that the opposition party leaders were shying away from the integrity pledge.

EC deputy chairman Datuk Wan Ahmad Wan Omar reportedly said it was incumbent on candidates contesting in the General Election to sign the pledge as the people desired representatives who did not merely profess to have integrity but practise it as well.

PBB supreme council member Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah, said: “The opposition refusal to sign Transparency International (TI) Malaysia’s Election Integrity Pledge, only reflect their ‘cakap tak serupa bikin’ or ‘want others to do good virtues but did not practise it themselves’ outlook.

‘Don’t stir up East vs Semenanjung sentiments’

Posted on September 19, 2012, Wednesday

PR leaders should ‘grow up’ and learn to appreciate that without Malaysia, Sarawak and Sabah would not have developed into what they were today.

SIBU: Pakatan Rakyat (PR) should not sow the seed of discontent, ‘fertilising’ it through the Kuching Declaration that could stir up sentiments of ‘East vs Semenanjung’, said SUPP Sibu vice-chairman Daniel Ngieng.

Warning them of the impending backlash through their pursuit of such political gimmick, he stressed that national solidarity and goodwill must be built on understanding and mutual respect.

“Why the Kuching Declaration now? They want to stir up sentiments of ‘East vs Semenanjung’, and thereafter hope to ride on it to derail BN support in the two states.

“You see, national solidarity and goodwill must be built on understanding and mutual respect,” he said in response to PR’s claim to champion the rights of Sarawak and Sabah.

Last Sunday, national and state leaders of PR signed the Kuching Declaration, pledging to restore Sarawak and Sabah as equal partners of Peninsular Malaysia if they (PR) form the next government.

The declaration which contained seven articles was signed by PKR de facto leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, DAP advisor Lim Kit Siang, PAS president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang, Sarawak PKR chief Baru Bian, Sarawak DAP chairman Wong Ho Leng and PAS Sarawak commissioner Adam Ahid.

The articles include equal partners (restoring autonomy to Sarawak and Sabah within the framework of the Federal Constitution).

Ngieng responded: “We here enjoy autonomous rights like immigration which BN upholds. Both PAS and DAP leaders have criticised it and called for abolition of our state rights.”

It was ironic how now PR issued the Kuching Declaration with one singing this and promising that.

It was just opportunistic on the part of the opposition, Ngieng commented.

He asked: “Could you trust someone like Anwar to defend your rights?”

When contacted, Asajaya assemblyman Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah said: “PR should not have sown the seed of discontent on the day we celebrate our state’s independence and on the day we celebrate Malaysia Day.