Guan Eng naive to think Sarawak will go bankrupt in 3 years, says minister

June 23, 2019

KUCHING: A Sarawak minister has described Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng as naive for warning that the state may become bankrupt in three years’ time.

“He must have assumed that the reserves would be depleted in three years,” said Tourism, Arts, Culture, Youth and Sports Minister Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah in a comment on Lim’s remarks regarding the annual state budget.

“That reasoning would be correct only if there’s no revenue coming in and Sarawak spends only its reserves.

'Sarawak muflis', kenyataan bodoh daripada Menteri Kewangan - Abdul Karim

June 22, 2019

KOTA SAMARAHAN: Menteri Pelancongan, Kesenian, Kebudayaan, Belia dan Sukan Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah membidas kenyataan Menteri Kewangan Lim Guan Eng bahawa Sarawak akan bankrap jika terus ditadbir oleh GPS sebagai kenyataan yang bodoh yang tidak sepatutnya diucapkan oleh seorang Menteri Kewangan.

“Tanpa Sarawak, Malaysia boleh bankrap (kerana tiada sumber pendapatan dari Sarawak). Sebagai Menteri Kewangan, dia patut tahu. Diharapkan kita jangan terpedaya (dengan kenyataan Guan Eng),” kata beliau.

Abdul Karim berkata Guan Eng patut tahu bahawa agensi penarafan antarabangsa telah memberi penarafan kredit baik kepada Sarawak sejak 15 tahun yang lalu.

Abdul Karim stands above war of words with Lim

January 9, 2019

KUCHING: Tourism, Arts, Culture, Youth and Sports Minister Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah said he will not stoop so low and be dragged into a war of words through the media with Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng over the tourism tax issue.

“Suffice to say that Lim Guan Eng admitted that the tourism tax has not been paid by the federal government and that confirms what I say when queried by the media on Jan 3 2019,” said Abdul Karim who is also Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) vice president.

“Lim Guan Eng should know that he has a bigger task to do which is to improve on the Malaysian economy than to issue press statement after press statement for three consecutive days over a small matter like tourism tax,” he added.

Tangling over tourism tax

January 7, 2019

Abdul Karim says merely doing his job as minister over tourism tax request, points out Sarawak’s debt to federal government ‘totally unrelated’

KUCHING: Minister of Tourism, Arts, Culture, Youth and Sports Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah has defended himself against accusations of politicising the RM2.7 million in tourism tax revenue owed to Sarawak by the federal government.

He told The Borneo Post that he was ‘surprised’ by a press statement issued by Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng over his statement, which was in response to a query by a member of the media over the non-payment of tourism tax collected from and due to Sarawak since September 2017.

“Am I politicising or uttering ‘fitnah’ (slander) in my process of asking what is due and owed to the state over a subject matter that has been promised and pledged by the previous Minister of Tourism and the present Minister of Finance?

Abdul Karim to Lim: Don’t play politics, do your utmost to improve country’s economy

January 6, 2019

KUCHING: Tourism, Arts, Culture, Youth and Sports Minister Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah has urged Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng not to play politics but do his utmost to improve the country’s economy, which includes Sarawak.

According to Abdul Karim, denying Sarawak its portion of tourism tax is not helping Sarawak tourism industry and Malaysian economy.

“Why must Minister Guan Eng get emotional and blowing his top and ask Sarawak to pay back its outstanding loan to the federal government when it is totally unrelated to the subject matter in question? Be a gentleman and address the issue professionally.

Abd Karim to LGE: Address tourism tax issue ‘professionally’

January 6, 2019

KUCHING, Jan 6: Sarawak Minister of Tourism, Arts, Culture, Youth and Sports Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah today told Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng to be a gentleman and to address the Sarawak’s tourism tax issue professionally.

“Be a gentleman and address the issue professionally,” said Abdul Karim in a statement today.

“There is no intention to defame, politicise or ‘fitnah’ (slander) anybody here, but as the minister looking after Sarawak tourism, I am just asking (for) what was promised and due, be it from the previous government or the present government of the day.”

Kalau nak seribu daya, kalau tak nak seribu dalih -Abdul Karim tells Guan Eng

October 26, 2018

KUCHING, Oct 26: Minister of Tourism, Arts, Culture, Youth and Sports Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah is disappointed with Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng for stating that Putrajaya would only come up with revenue sharing with Sarawak and Sabah in at least a year later, using Malaysia’s financial problems as an excuse.

Abdul Karim said Lim’s ambiguous statement was a “flip-flop” from what he said before being appointed a minister. Previously, he had pledged to go all out to defend the rights of the two Borneon states.

“Everybody knows Sabah and Sarawak are the cash cows for the Malaysian economy. If I’m not mistaken, more than half of Malaysia’s reserve comes from Sabah and Sarawak. That’s why Malaysia has got to look after Sabah and Sarawak for being the provider for Malaysia’s economy.

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.

Do not play to the gallery, Guan Eng told

April 17, 2016

SIBU: DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng has been told not to play to the gallery and accuse the state government of abusing its powers.

A PBB Supreme Council member Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah was reacting to Lim’s claim that the state government’s move to ban certain individuals from entering the state was an abuse of power.

“Lim must know and understand that Sarawak has certain ‘autonomous rights and privileges’ which it inherits when Malaysia was formed together with Malaya, Singapore and Sabah in 1963,” Abdul Karim said.

He said these rights were enshrined in the Malaysian Constitution and Immigration was one of those rights.

Hence, he said it was not within Lim’s capacity and jurisdiction to allege that the state government’s move to ban certain individuals from entering the state was an abuse of power.

“Who is he to claim as such? Is he trying to say that this Immigration rights which Sarawak holds dearly is unconstitutional? The only organ of government that could deem it an abuse of power and unconstitutional is the judiciary.”

The BN candidate for Asajaya reckoned if Lim was unhappy with the barring of certain individuals by the Sarawak government, which included some leaders from DAP, he (Lim) should refer the matter to court for a judicial review.

Pakatan in disarray – Abd Karim

May 21, 2015

SIBU: Pakatan Rakyat is now in shambles as DAP has come up with its own shadow cabinet, says Asajaya assemblyman and Assistant Youth Minister Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah.

“DAP has ‘rejected’ Azizah’s ‘shadow cabinet’ and come up with their own yesterday (Tuesday).

“A big slap to Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail and PKR. The Pakatan Rakyat union is now down the drain,” Abdul Karim who is PBB Supreme Council member said yesterday.

He added that DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng when announcing their own DAP shadow was practically telling Azizah that she was just a ‘puppet’ opposition parliamentary head.

“This is exactly what we had anticipated all these years that the PR is just a ‘marriage’ of convenience.

“DAP doesn’t trust PKR and PAS and so do PKR and PAS towards DAP.

“DAP has all along been racist in outlook and could only place Zairil (Khir Johari) to represent the Bumiputera component in its ‘shadow cabinet’,” Abdul Karim pointed out.

‘Don’t use Ngap Sayot for politics’

June 16, 2013

KUCHING: Former state football coach Awang Mahyan Awang Mohamad is against the proposed use of the famous Ngap Sayot battle cry for political purposes.

The man credited with coining the football battle cry in the late 80s said he was unhappy with Democratic Action Party (DAP) secretary-general Lim Guan Eng’s suggestion of combining Ngap Sayot with its existing Ubah slogan as the party’s strategy for the next state election.

“I oppose any plan to have it being used for political purposes. It is not proper. Though Ngap Sayot has universal purposes apart from a battle cry in sports, I do not agree with this battle cry being used by others with political agendas,” he said when contacted.

Awang Mahyan said the battle cry is a combination of local words to psych up sportsmen.

“The word Ngap is used locally by anyone be it Chinese, Iban or Malay to signify makan (eat). The word Sayot refers to sayur (vegetables) as some of the traders then pronounced it. So, the phrase Ngap Sayot means to eat vegetables. It is to signify that it is easy for you to take down your opponent if you do not let fear get in your way.

“This battle cry is certainly meant to psych up or motivate your athletes and sportsmen during games, but it is certainly not meant for politics. They (DAP) did not use such a battle cry when they won the state of Penang so why should they need this battle cry for their strategy in Sarawak,” he said.

BN leaders scoff at at toll-free highway

April 28, 2013

“They claim to advocate transparency against abuse of power and others. When DAP Supreme Council election was rigged, none of the DAP Adun (elected representatives) spoke up. Why are all of them silent? Isn’t transparency one of the matters in their agenda?” 

- Tuan Haji Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah

SIBU: Several state BN leaders have called Pakatan Rakyat’s (PR) bluff over a towering promise it made to build a toll-free Pan Borneo highway, calling the promise bewildering, especially since PR is still grappling with unresolved issues in the states under its administration.

The BN leaders said it was clear the opposition pact’s intention was just to fish for votes, knowing very well they will not be able to fulfill the promise like all the other things in their long list of unfulfilled promises.

“What have they done in Penang, Selangor, Kedah and Kelantan? Highway rakyat announced by Kelantan, what happened to it?

“Just look at Permatang Pauh, have they resolved the flooding issue over there? What about the traffic congestion in Penang?

“If I were to name them, there will be a long list of issues not resolved. Penang is only the size of Kuching yet he (Lim Guan Eng) can’t manage it well, including the decline in foreign direct investments (FDI),” state BN youth chief Datuk Fadillah Yusof said.

To PBB supreme council member Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah, PR was very good at making promises and dangling ‘carrots’ to entice voters as proven during the last general election when many fell for their trap.

“Many promises were made in Selangor and Penang and what do we see now? Only 15 per cent of those promises were fulfilled.

“Now, they want to do the same thing in Sarawak. So far, we have seen several PR members elected into Sarawak DUN. What did they promise the people before they got elected?

“They claim to advocate transparency against abuse of power and others. When DAP Supreme Council election was rigged, none of the DAP Adun (elected representatives) spoke up.

“Why are all of them silent? Isn’t transparency one of the matters in their agenda?” asked Abdul Karim, who is Assistant Minister of Youth Development and Asajaya assemblyman.

Abdul Kairm foresees scramble for PM post if PR wins coming polls

Posted on November 26, 2012, Monday

SIBU: There may be more than two ‘prime minister’ hopefuls should Pakatan Rakyat (PR) come to power after the general election as DAP strongman Lim Guan Eng will not want to be left out of the race.

When giving this view, PBB supreme council member Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah warned that there would be a big scramble for the country’s number one post if PR had the upper hand.

“Unlike BN, PR is a loose coalition and there is no ‘head’ of PR to automatically become PM if they win the impending election.

“The likelihood of chaos cannot be discounted, where investors’ confidence and the business community are the ones most likely affected. To date, they are evasive as to who would become the premier in the event PR wins because among themselves, whether it is (Datuk Seri) Anwar Ibrahim, (Datuk Seri) Hadi (Awang) or Guan Eng, they are keen to vie for that post.

“Before that happens, it is better to put your vote on the present BN government that has proven visionary and brought continuous development to the people.

“BN has time and time proven to be capable in leading the country towards achieving higher level of development and growth besides being people and business friendly,” Karim, who is also Asajaya assemblyman and Assistant Minister of Youth Development, told The Borneo Post.

He conceded while there might be weaknesses BN was very sincere in making improvements.

Sistem tarikh tetap pilihan raya usaha pembangkang mengelirukan rakyat

September 6, 2012

KUCHING: Menteri Muda Pembangunan Belia (Bandar) Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah tidak percaya dengan pendapat pembangkang bahawa mereka akan mengadaptasi sistem tarikh tetap pilihan raya sekiranya mereka memerintah negara ini.

Sebaliknya beliau merasakan, niat pembangkang untuk membawa isu berkenaan adalah semata-mata untuk mengelirukan rakyat bahawa sistem pengundian sedia ada tidak bagus.

Bercakap pada satu sidang media di sini semalam, beliau tidak melihat ada sebarang keperluan untuk menukar sistem pilihan raya kerana ia telah diterima secara meluas dan tidak ada sebarang masalah dihadapi.

“Ia bukan sesuatu yang unik dan bukan negara kita sahaja yang mengamalkannya. Negara yang pernah dijajah England mengamalkan sistem yang sama.

“Mungkin pembangkang membuat cerita dengan menyatakan sistem itu tidak bagus. Jika mereka dalam kerajaan mereka juga akan melakukan perkara yang sama. Saya berasakan mereka tidak akan mahu berubah,” kata Menteri Muda Perumahan itu.

Abdul Karim menganggap sistem sekarang telah mengujakan lagi pilihan raya kerana: “Ia memberi banyak keterujaan apabila kita tidak diberi tarikh, semua spekulasi menjadikan momentum pilihan raya lebih menarik.”

Ahli Dewan Undangan Negari (ADUN) Asajaya itu berkata demikian bagi mengulas mengenai kenyataan Setiausaha Agung Parti Tindakan Demokratik (DAP) Lim Guan Eng baru-baru ini, bahawa beliau akan mencadangkan kepada Pakatan Rakyat (PR) untuk menetapkan tarikh pilihan raya, sekiranya mereka memerintah.