Jamilah’s landslide win a ‘thank you’ to Adenan, says party

PETALING JAYA: Jamilah Anu’s landslide victory in yesterday’s Tanjong Datu by-election was the constituents’ way of saying “thank you” to her late husband, former Sarawak chief minister Adenan Satem, said a senior PBB leader.

Speaking to FMT, PBB supreme council member Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah congratulated Jamilah who contested the seat previously held by Adenan until his death last month.

Adenan was Tanjong Datu’s elected representative for more than nine years, having first won the seat in the ninth Sarawak state election in May 2006.

“The big win is also a clear manifestation and endorsement of Tanjong Datu voters towards Sarawak BN,” Karim said.

He added that although BN knew they would win the seat, what wasn’t expected was the margin of victory, with BN getting 96.5% of the votes.

Tanjong Datu voters will not be easily swayed by STAR

February 08, 2017

KUCHING: A PBB Supreme Council member Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah said the fact that all STAR candidates lost their deposits during the last state election was a clear reflection that Sarawakian voters were not stupid and easily swayed by rhetoric and fantasy of its president Lina Soo and her bunch of dreamers.

“She claimed MA63 is the core agenda of STAR in the last state election and this by-election. 

Well said by Lina but not very well received by Sarawakian voters in the last state election and God willing, also in this by-election,” said Karim Hamzah as reported by The Borneo Post today.

Meanwhile State BN youth chief Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof said with or without the by-election, the government had implemented various developments that had been promised to the people in Tanjong Datu.

“Our former chief minister (the late Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Adenan Satem) had tabled a plan for Tanjong Datu, what has been achieved with more planning for the people.

Abdul Karim chides opposition candidates in Tanjong Datu by-election

February 6, 2017

KUCHING: PBB Supreme Council member Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah is not pleased with candidates from State Reform Party Sarawak (STAR) and Parti Bansa Dayak Sarawak Baru (PBDS Baru) contesting in the Tanjong Datu by-election.

Among others, STAR candidate Johnny Aput’s manifesto focuses on the autonomy of Sarawak based on the Malaysia Agreement 1963 which he claimed the late Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Adenan Satem was too slow to pursue.

PBDS Baru candidate Rapelson Richard Hamit, on the other hand, said his main area of contention is the recognition of ‘pemakai menoa’ and ‘pulau galau’, which was ruled by the Federal Court recently as having no force of law.

Abdul Karim, without mincing his words, said Johnny probably thought he had an ‘Alladin Lamp’ that could expedite the state’s quest for greater autonomy.

“He better be ‘down to earth’ than to live in his own dreamland. Even if he wins the seat, which is near impossible, his sole voice will not even be heard by Kuala Lumpur. He can’t even open the doors of Putrajaya.

‘Jamilah perfect candidate for Tanjong Datu’

February 2, 2017

KUCHING: A PBB supreme council member Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah says Datin Patinggi Datuk Amar Jamilah Anu is the perfect candidate for Tanjong Datu.

Abdul Karim, who is Asajaya assemblyman, said Jamilah was the pillar behind the late Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Adenan Satem and she herself was very passionate and committed in whatever task she did.

“Therefore, playing the role of an elected representative, in the event she wins (in the coming by-election) will fit her well,” he said in a press statement received here yesterday.

According to Abdul Karim, Jamilah had been involved in community and charitable works ever since Adenan was the elected the people’s representative of Muara Tuang way back in the late 1970s, 1980s and 1990s.

“She continued that (her works) in Tanjong Datu when Tok Nan moved there and I don’t think anybody in Tanjong Datu doesn’t know or not recognises her,” he said.

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.

BN/PBB hopes Tanjung Datu by-election uncontested

January 20, 2017

KUCHING: Assistant minister Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah hopes to see Barisan Nasional (BN) and Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) win Tanjung Datu uncontested in the Feb 18 by-election.

He said winning the seat — which is vacant following the demise of Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Adenan Satem — uncontested “is a very good way to finish it off.”

The Assistant Minister for Housing said: “From what we have seen since the passing of Datuk Patinggi (Adenan), you can see he is very much loved by the people.”

“We know it is democracy and that anybody can contest. But then as a sign of last farewell for his area, we’d love to see (BN-PBB) win uncontested,” he said when met by reporters after the swearing-in ceremony at the State Legislative Assembly Complex here yesterday.

Karim, who is also Assistant Minister for Youth and Sports, has absolute confidence that BN would not just retain Tanjung Datu but register a big win if there is a contest.

Be rest assured - Sarawak in safe hands

January 14, 2017

KUCHING: The appointment of Datuk Amar Abang Johari Tun Openg as the state’s sixth chief minister has been hailed as a wise and appropriate choice, political leaders from both sides of the political divide in the state said.

Deputy Chief Minister Tan Sri Datuk Amar Dr James Masing, who is also Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) president, said Abang Johari was not only the deputy president of the state’s largest political party Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB), but he also had three decades of political experience.

“His political acumen is second to none when it comes to the administration of a multi-racial and multi-religious country like Sarawak.

Masing, who is Baleh assemblyman, assured PRS would give Abang Johari their full and undivided support towards his administration of the state, in line with what the late Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Adenan Satem would have wanted.

“Adenan’s dream for rural-biased development of Sarawak will continue with Abang Johari – in such approach of development, PRS is very certain,” he said, wishing Abang Johari all the best in looking after Sarawak and its people in the years ahead.

Many other political leaders also expressed their views and advice on the appointment of Abang Johari as chief minister and gave their thumbs up for the choice.

“It is said that political greatness is the ability to translate wisdom into action on behalf of the people. To do this requires a combination of moral virtues, practical wisdom and public-spiritedness.”

Be rest assured – Sarawak is in safe hands under his stewardship. He (Abang Johari) was the late chief minister’s (Adenan) confidant, coming from the same Kampung Bandarsyah and has wide experience as a minister and leader. He is close to all the communities in Sarawak and has always been very fair. –Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah, Assistant Minister for Housing 

Adenan will be greatly missed - Karim

January 12, 2017

PETALING JAYA: A senior PBB leader Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah said the state had lost a great leader, who in a short time, managed to create such a big impact on Sarawakians and Malaysians.

He said it was rare to hear negative comments about the late Sarawak Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Adenan Satem, who has united Sarawakians of all races and beliefs.

“Even the opposition like him and have a lot of respect for him. He has laid the path for his successor and Sarawak,” said Karim, who is a state assistant minister for housing, Free Malaysia Today reported.

“He will be greatly missed. For me personally, I have lost a leader, a father, a mentor, a close confidante and a friend. May he have a place in heaven.”

Meanwhile Adenan's youngest daughter Aziza said : “He deserves every bit of that Sarawak flag covering his coffin because he lived and breathed for Sarawak.”

al-Fatihah untuk Allahyarham Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Adenan Satem

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.

Karim sokong bentang usul tuntutan hak Sarawak

October 25, 2016

KUCHING: Pemimpin Barisan Nasional (BN) Negeri menyokong penuh cadangan Ketua Menteri Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Adenan Satem untuk membentangkan usul berhubung tuntutan semula hak Sarawak pada Persidangan Dewan Undangan Negeri (DUN) bulan depan.

Sokongan tersebut dinyatakan oleh Ahli Majlis Tertinggi PBB Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman hamzah yang juga Menteri Muda Belia dan Sukan dan Menteri Muda Perumahan serta ADUN Asajaya.

Menurut Karim, Malaysia ditubuhkan berlandaskan perjanjian-perjanjian dan laporan dan semua pihak perlu menghormati perjanjian awal ini.

"Meskipun kita kini sudah ada Perlembagaan Malaysia tetapi ia tidak bermaksud semua dokumen yang ditandatangani untuk penubuhan Malaysia adalah tidak penting dan tidak relevan seperti yang disuarakan oleh seorang profesor baru-baru ini.

"Itu adalah satu pandangan yang salah dan kemungkinan profesor tersebut perlu menyemak balik sejarah dan bahan rujukan beliau agar dapat faham apa sebenarnya yang diniatkan oleh pemimpin kita ketika menandatangani MA63 pada masa itu," katanya ketika dihubungi semalam.

Tambah Karim, banyak hak Sarawak terhakis dari tahun ke tahun dan perkara ini perlu diperbetulkan.

Sebab itu, Ketua Menteri mahu membentangkan usul ini pada Persidangan DUN bulan depan sebelum dikemukan kepada kerajaan pusat, katanya lagi.

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.

You’re ignorant, PBB man tells DAP’s Chong

September 14, 2016

Abdul Karim Hamzah denies that CM Adenan was only playing to the gallery when he asked for federal approval for more English schools.

PETALING JAYA: A senior PBB leader has accused Sarawak DAP chief Chong Chieng Jen of ignorance on matters pertaining to the country’s education policy.

Speaking to FMT, Abdul Karim Hamzah rebuked Chong for suggesting that Sarawak Chief Minister Adenan Satem was merely playing to the gallery when he asked the Federal Government to approve more private English-medium schools.

Yesterday, Chong said Adenan’s government needed to act to prove that its pledges to the Sarawak public were not mere rhetoric.

Karim, who is Sarawak’s Assistant Minister of Housing, said he was surprised that Chong, as a Member of Parliament, was unaware that education was in the Federal List of the Federal Constitution. “Any change in policy or request by the state of Sabah or Sarawak pertaining to education has to be referred to Putrajaya.”

Karim said Chong had displayed “utter ignorance” with his suggestion that the Sarawak Cabinet could easily give approval for the schools.

He denied that Adenan was “just paying lip service” or that Sarawak Barisan Nasional was “creating false hope” as alleged by Chong.

He said Putrajaya would “at the very least” consider the request because it came from Adenan and Sarawak BN.

Galeri: Presentation of SUKMA incentives ceremony

Chief Minister Adenan and Jamilah (centre), with the Sukma contingent during last night’s presentation ceremony, with alongside Jerip (partially hidden), SSC chief Dr Ong Kong Swee, Abdul Karim, Fadillah (behind), Manyin, Masing and Asfia. Nerosha (file pic below) led the bowling team for the biggest incentive winner. — Photo by Chimon Upon

Selamat Menyambut Hari Kebangsaan 2016

August 31, 2016

KUCHING: Assistant Minister of Youth and Sports Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah hopes that Malaysia will remain politically peaceful, socially harmonious and economically vibrant as the nation celebrates its National Day today.

He said the peace and stability should be safeguarded to ensure that the country continue to progress substantially and economically prosper.

“Likewise, I hope Sarawak being the largest state and biggest natural resources contributor towards the nation’s economy would be adequately reciprocated by the central government in terms of infrastructure development,” he said when contacted via WhatsApp yesterday.

He said this is despite the fact that most Sarawakians are now very mobile and many have the opportunity to further their studies in Peninsular Malaysia.

However, he stressed that Sarawak was still lacking in terms of infrastructure development.

“In Peninsula, they have the North-South Highway which links many major cities and towns there. We are taking about three to four alternative routes, but in Sarawak we are still lingering about constructing our first dual carriageway,” he said.

“Say what they like, but Peninsula Malaysia is far far more developed in terms of infrastructure as compared to Sarawak. And we are proudly saying we are already in our 53th year being part of Malaysia,” he added.

Sarawak is also Petronas' political master - not only Federal Government

Assistant Minister of Housing Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah welcomed the State Government's decision to freeze all new applications for work permits for Petronas' personnel posted to the state.

He said the measure was definitely a good and welcome news to all Sarawakians, and showed that Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Adenan Satem was truly serious about this matter.

“I’m very happy to hear that all new employment permits from Petronas have been frozen until particulars sought by the state government are furnished. 

"Petronas must know that their political master is not just the federal government, but the state government too," he told a local English daily yesterday.

Abdul Karim, who is also Assistant Youth and Sports Minister, reiterated that Sarawakians had been ‘insulted’ by Petronas for too long and wanted this to be stopped.

“I have said that we do not want Petronas to ‘insult’ us. 

"They have insulted us for far too long on this employment of Sarawakians matter and we want them to change their policy. Lest, we will have to tighten it on our side." 

Galeri: Welcoming Dinner for Sukma officials

July 26, 2016

Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Adenan Satem, Datuk Patinggi Dato Jamilah, other VIPs and key officials of various contingents in a special photography session before the dinner.

Galeri: Swimming SUKMA competition

July 26, 2016

Some of the officials came showing their supports to Sarawak’s swimming team; the State Secretary Tan Sri Mohamad Morshidi Abdul Ghani, the Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Adenan Satem, the Youth and Sports Assistant Minister Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah, Assistant Minister for Early Childhood Education and Family Development Sharifah Hasidah Sayeed Aman Ghazali and Datin Zuraini Abdul Jabbar.

It is still proper to call Sarawak as a state - Karim

July 11, 2016

Abdul Karim (third left) in a group photo with See (fourth left), national PKR Women vice president Voon Shiak Ni (left), state PKR Women chief Nurhanim Hanna Mokhsen (second left) and other guests.

KUCHING: Assistant Minister of Housing Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah opined a call by the SUPP president Datuk Dr Sim Kui Hian for Sarawak to be referred as a region in Malaysia and not as a state as ‘very subjective.’

He  believed it was still proper to call Sarawak a state because it was a part of Malaysia.

“Sarawak can still be considered a state, but it is a state within a union … within a confederation. So, whether we should call ourselves just Sarawak or a state, to me that is minor,” he told reporters when met at his Hari Raya open house at his residence here yesterday.

“What is more important here is when we signed the (Malaysia) Agreement, there were certain rights that we agreed upon, and these are the rights that have diminished for the last 53 years. We are trying to get them back.”

Stating that the matter was quite sensitive, he opined it was now more important to focus on the rights of the state as Sarawak was one of the signatories to the Malaysia Agreement 1963.

“Unlike the federated and unfederated Malay states that are Peninsular Malaysia, they came in as signatory to the Malaysia Agreement 1963 as one entity. We (Sarawak) came in as another entity, Sabah came in as another, and Singapore, too.

“The way I see it, strictly from a legal aspect, it should be called a federation of states.”

‘KPI will keep BN lawmakers on their toes’

June 18, 2016

KUCHING: The key performance indicator (KPI) introduced by Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Adenan Satem for ministers and Barisan Nasional (BN) lawmakers will serve as a reminder for them not to rest on their laurels.

Assistant Housing Minister Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah said the KPI would ensure that all BN elected representatives – particularly those in the state cabinet – would maintain a high standard of performance and delivery to the people. He deemed the introduction of the performance-based management report a positive move, adding he was sure BN elected representatives would have no problem maintaining standards.

“A good advice and reminder by our chief minister. This will keep the assemblymen and ministers on their toes. However, keep in mind that BN elected representatives have always been dedicated and committed to their constituencies. Nevertheless, the caution is a good reminder for them not to rest on their laurels,” the Asajaya assemblyman told The Borneo Post when contacted yesterday.

Abdul Karim was commenting on the setting up of performance-based management for all ministries, where all ministers are required to have their own KPIs as stated by Adenan in his winding-up speech at the State Legislative Assembly (DUN) on Wednesday.

All BN lawmakers are also required to have their own KPIs, in which a report must be submitted to Adenan every six months.

Adenan said inept ministers would be dropped from the state cabinet, while non-performing elected representatives would not be nominated to defend their seats in the next state election.

Minister of Public Utilities Datuk Dr Stephen Rundi Utom said the KPI is part of the Adenan administration’s efforts to fulfil BN’s manifesto for the state election.