Ministry to consider Sibu-Singapore direct flight

August 05, 2019

Abdul Karim holds a saxophone during a photo-call with Hii (left), Sibu Rural District Council deputy chairman Robert Lau (right), Gracie (fourth right) and others.

SIBU: The highly-requested Sibu-Singapore direct flight will be given due consideration, says Tourism, Arts, Culture, Youth and Sports Minister Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah.

He points out that with the Sarawak Trade and Tourism Office now open in Singapore, the time is right to consider the request.

“It is probably a good time to consider (the request) but then, we will need a lot of discussions on this,” he told reporters after the Kuching Waterfront Jazz Festival (KWJF) showcase at a hotel here on Saturday night.

Minister moots fixed dates for jazz festival

September 20, 2018

SEDC deputy general manager Edwin Abit (third left) presents mock festival tickets to Abdul Karim while others look on. 

KUCHING: Minister of Tourism, Arts, Culture, Youths and Sports Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah hopes the annual Kuching Waterfront Jazz Festival is held on a fixed date each year or by end of September to allow jazz lovers worldwide know when to book their flights here.

Based on the inaugural event last year, which was a sold-out, he is confident that this year’s festival would be the same.

“Even people from Indonesia came here for the festival, and it shows how popular it is.”

Sarawak holds talks with AirAsia to build LCCT in Kuching

June 26, 2018

KUCHING, June 26: A special committee set up by the state government is currently in talks with AirAsia Bhd’s top management on the proposal to build a Low Cost Carrier Terminal (LCCT) here.

Minister of Tourism, Arts, Culture, Youth and Sports Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah said the proposed LCCT would be connected to the proposed Light Rail Transit (LRT) system.

Speaking at the launch of ‘Kuching Waterfront Jazz Festival 2018 (KWJF2018)’ today, Abdul Karim said details of the LCCT would be announced at an appropriate time due to its importance. In fact, it will become an integral part of the state’s transportation masterplan.

It is believed that the cost for this initiative would be split evenly between the two parties.

Kuching Waterfront Jazz Festival 2.0 returns on Sept 28-29

June 26, 2018

Minister of Tourism, Arts, Culture, Youth & Sports Datuk Abdul Karim Hamzah (second from left) unveils the event poster featuring the performing artist. With him are (from left) SEDC chairman Tan Sri Abdul Aziz Husain, SEDC general manager Soedirman Aini, and Festival advisor Gracie Geikie.

KUCHING, June 26: Following the astounding success of its inaugural edition last year, Kuching Waterfront Jazz Festival (KWJF) will be returning on Sept 28-29 this year at The Waterfront, Grand Margherita Hotel.

The jazz festival will feature artistes and bands from Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore, United Kingdom, Australia, USA and Portugal.

Sarawakian-born international concert pianist Jolynn Chin will be making a return to this year’s festival. Other performing artists include Sarawakian songstress Dayang Nurfaizah, Blues Gang (Malaysia), Tompi (Indonesia) and Carmen Souza (UK/Portugal).

KWJF to be staged annually — Abdul Karim

September 14, 2017

Abdul Karim (centre) receives the KWJF t-shirt from Soedirman witnessed by Mok (right), Gracie (left) and Edwin (second left).

KUCHING: The Kuching Waterfront Jazz Festival (KWJF) is set to become an annual event in the state starting this year.

This was revealed by Tourism, Arts, Culture, Youth and Sports Minister Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah who pointed out that Sarawak will now boast two jazz music festivals in a year, in Miri (Jazz Borneo) and Kuching.

“We have the Jazz Borneo festival which is held in May in Miri and now the KWJF in Kuching.