Karim not for using Penang example to combat rabies

September 30, 2018

SIBU: Miri MP Dr Michael Teo Yu Keng’s suggestion of using Penang as an example of good management on how Sarawak should address the rabies problem might not be justified.

Minister of Tourism, Arts, Culture, Youth and Sports Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah was reacting to Dr Teo’s suggestion that Sarawak should emulate measures of mandatory mass-vaccinations, humane capture, quarantine and culling taken by Penang in stopping the spread of rabies in the state two years ago.

The Miri MP had further mentioned that the disease has already claimed 12 lives in Sarawak and mass vaccination did not stop the outbreak which has becoming worrying.

Abdul Karim dismisses PKR’s plan to take over Sarawak govt as ‘wishful thinking’

August 28, 2018

SIBU: Miri MP Dr Michael Teo’s statement about Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) taking over Sarawak government come the next state election is just ‘wishful thinking’, says Minister of Tourism, Arts, Culture, Youth and Sport Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah.

According to the minister, PKR Sarawak has been expressing the same confidence in every Sarawak state election or general election (GE).

In his recent remarks, Dr Teo called upon PKR members in the three state constituencies under Baram parliamentary area, to play their roles towards enabling PKR take over the Sarawak government in the next state election.

The Miri MP expressed his confidence that PKR should be able to take over Petra Jaya – regarded as the seat of the Sarawak government – if all constituencies could work harder than before, as he highlighted Baram as one of PKR’s strongest divisions.

Karim: Miri MP seems to follow law of jungle

August 3, 2014

SIBU: Miri MP Michael Teo seems to be following the ‘law of the jungle’ in mulling to remove the Miri mayor over the waterfront issue.

PBB Supreme Council member Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah in giving this opinion, questioned if there was anything under the law where the public could file a petition to remove a mayor.

Abdul Karim, who is Assistant Minister of Youth Development and Asajaya assemblyman, was commenting on Dr Teo’s statement that if mayor Lawrence Lai did not provide a good explanation as to why the parking lots were removed for an access road, they would resort to conduct a petition to have him removed.

“Dr Michael Teo must know how to live up to his stature as an elected parliamentarian.

“He is doing things to seek cheap publicity,” he told thesundaypost yesterday.

He recalled the other day Teo was seen manhandling some employees of a company doing some contract work.

“Well, he gets the publicity. Now, he wants to do a petition to remove the mayor.

Karim's advice to Dr Teo: Don't be a 'low class' YB who acts 'macam gangster'

July 4, 2014

SIBU: Assistant Minister of Youth Development Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah expressed surprise over the unbecoming acts of the Miri MP.

Abdul Karim, who is Asajaya assemblyman, said the gangster-like manner does not bode well with the MP and assemblyman being elected representatives.

He felt they should have gone through a proper channel to voice their discontent.

He was referring to the news report carried by The Borneo Post, where an MP and assemblyman lost their cool in the sweltering heat on Wednesday morning – shouting and shoving at a representative of Marina Park developer over parking lots at Miri Waterfront Commercial Centre.

It was reported that Miri MP Dr Michael Teo and Pujut assemblyman Fong Pau Teck were angry after a heated argument with representative from the developer who insisted that the project was legal and above board.

Both had earlier been reported to have stopped the contractor from continuing with their parking lot conversion work.

A police team had to be called in while the drama attracted a sizeable crowd.

Abdul Karim: BN transparent with finances and doesn't do coffee shop politics like Dr. Teo

June 17, 2014

SIBU: The Barisan Nasional (BN) government practises transparency and good governance in its finances, including development funds by its elected representatives.

PBB supreme council member Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah mentioned this yesterday in response to Miri MP Dr Michael Teo’s recent challenge to BN elected representatives to put their development-fund book before the Auditor-General to prove they were ‘clean’.

Dr Teo said this was necessary because the amount allocated to them annually was huge.

To this, Abdul Karim, who is Assistant Minister of Youth Development and Asajaya assemblyman, said: “We don’t play coffee shop politics like MP Teo.

“Let me reiterate that these development funds are not for the YBs personal use as ‘pocket money’ like what MP Teo seems to imply.

“There are terms, conditions and guidelines on how the monies are to be spent.

“It cannot be spent by the YBs as they like. All proposals for expenditures have to be submitted and evaluated by a certain committee for vetting and approval. The YBs can only propose.”

Boycott threat shows PKR’s true colours

June 14, 2013

SIBU: The indecisiveness of Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) over the boycott of the first seating of the new parliament on June 24 shows the party is more concerned about politicking than serving the people.

Saying this yesterday, state BN secretary-general Datuk Dr Stephen Rundi commented, ‘The needs and aspirations of the people had become secondary to them,’

He added that PKR could not even decide on the most basic obligation of a MP which was to take their oath of office so that they could address people’s needs and aspirations. “

“They are only concerned about power and politicking, especially Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and people become secondary.

“Do they deserve to be given the mandate? The people will tell sooner or later,” Dr Rundi, who is Assistant Minister of Public Utilities (Electricity and Telecommunications) told The Borneo Post.

He was asked to comment on the different stands between DAP and PKR on whether to boycott the first parliamentary sitting.

Miri MP Dr Michael Teo Yu Kheng was reported to have said he was still waiting for instructions from their top leadership on whether it is go or no go.

  

Abdul Karim explains his tiff with Dr Teo

August 3, 2012

TICKED OFF: A file photo of the commotion during the EC question and answer session on Wednesday.

KOTA SAMARAHAN: Assistant Youth Development Minister Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah said the commotion between him and PKR representative Dr Michael Teo during the Election Commission (EC) question and answer session on Wednesday started after he was irked by the way Dr Teo asked questions.

He felt that Dr Teo should not have made such a sweeping statement implicating and accusing the Army and EC of being unfair in the conduct of the election when he was supposed to ask questions on matters he was unclear about.

“I feel it is a question and answer session whereby you put forward your questions to EC if you have any queries but don’t make a sweeping statement.

“I was there when he said when EC conduct postal voting at a camp the ballot box was kept in the army camp after the voting was over. We don’t trust the commander we never know what is happening inside there and when you open the ballot box all the votes go to BN”.

“This to me is wild so I told him that if he doesn’t know the procedure he should asked EC how it was done instead of hurling wild accusations. I told him not to ask stupid questions and something like that but he straight away thought that I was calling him stupid which was not the case”.

“In fact I have the full respect for him and I did not regard him as stupid but it was the manner he had asked questions because you don’t assume, don’t imply and don’t make accusations like that,” he said.

Abdul Karim, who is Assistant Housing Minister and Asajaya assemblyman, told reporters this whey clarifying the incident during the EC briefing session at a leading hotel here on Wednesday.

Fracas over postal votes at EC briefing

Thursday August 2, 2012

Getting heated: Dr Teo (right) trading barbs with Abdul Karim (second from left)

and some PBB members during the question and answer session.

KUCHING: A brief fracas broke out between PKR’s Dr Michael Teo and Assistant Housing Minister Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah during a question and answer session at the Election Commission briefing here yesterday.

The incident erupted when Dr Teo claimed that the postal votes cast by uniformed personnel could be manipulated if the ballot boxes were not placed at the tallying centres after the voting process as it might lead to vote tampering.

This led to Abdul Karim retorting the claims by saying that Dr Teo was raising a stupid question.

An argument then ensued between them before Abdul Karim and his PBB colleagues walked out of the conference room.

The briefing was held to update political parties and media representatives on the latest election rules which will be implemented in the coming general election.

Later, Abdul Karim told reporters that it was wrong for Dr Teo to make an allegation.

“It was a question and answer session after the briefing and Dr Teo should have just asked relevant questions.

Peter John Jaban is a chameleon - Karim

June 11, 2012

“Hahaha … knowing this guy, who is like a chameleon, do you believe his words?" Tuan Haji Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah

KUCHING: Deputy Dewan Rakyat Speaker Datuk Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar said deejay Peter John Jaban was free to do whatever he wished within the limits of his rights and freedom.

“This is a free and democratic country, and everyone is free to do whatever he or she pleases. But unlike anarchy, there are laws and regulations. Democracy is not about unfettered freedom. There are various shades and colours of the concept of freedom and democracy based on the wishes of the majority,” he said when contacted by The Borneo Post yesterday.

Wan Junaidi, who is also Santubong MP, said this when asked to comment on Jaban’s statement that he had decided not to return to London where he had been working with foreign-funded Radio Free Sarawak (RFS) since 2010.

Wan Junaidi opined that Jaban’s struggles for his people were noble and honourable, adding that both were high sounding and provide the moral high ground, and advised him to stay clear of underhand tactics.

“One should not resort to underhand and irregular tactics and ways. Oblique minds and bias judgment would deprive one of the nobility of struggle and moral high ground one placed him or herself on. Therefore, everyone must observe the law and moral provisions in order to achieve noble objectives.”

Meanwhile, Assistant Minister of Housing Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah, when contacted, responded: “Hahaha … knowing this guy, who is like a chameleon, do you believe his words?

“I won’t be surprised if he had been sacked by Clare (Clare Rewcastle-Brown) of RFS or that he had gone missing in action because he didn’t get what he was expecting there.”