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.

‘Perak DAP chief should bear responsibility for offensive FB posting’

February 20, 2016

KUCHING: Perak DAP chief Nga Kor Ming should take responsibility over the recent posting on his alleged Facebook account, which had altered caption of a photo depicting Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Adenan Satem.

Assistant Minister of Youth Development Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah, who is also PBB supreme council member, urged the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) to investigate the matter.

He believed that MCMC and other relevant authorities should take action against such act carried out by what he deemed as ‘a despicable individual out to create ill feeling and anger among the multi-ethnic races in this country’.

“Nga should be responsible for his posting and the anxieties that it created, especially to Sarawakians. Even though the posting has been removed, the damage has been done. DAP and Nga must apologise to Chief Minister Adenan for what they did.

“The caption of the photo on the Taiping MP’s Facebook account originally stated: ‘Adenan: Our Government will always treat the Chinese well’, but this was altered to ‘Balik Tongsan, Cina Babi’ and ‘Apa Lagi Cina Mau’.

“Such act is despicable, malicious, provocative and forthright idiotic — even more so that it was coming from a supposedly honourable MP,” he said in a statement yesterday.

Abdul Karim, who is Asajaya assemblyman, was referring to a Facebook page bearing Nga’s name that carried the ‘Balik Tongsan, Cina Babi’ (Go back to China, Chinese pigs) caption sloppily placed above Adenan’s picture.

Nab illegal online gambling crooks too, not just detect operation, enforcers told

August 13, 2015

SIBU: Vital steps need to be taken to nab the culprits behind an online gambling syndicate, of which existence has been detected by the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC).

Assistant Minister of Youth Development Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah made this call yesterday following the disclosure made by the commission’s Monitoring and Enforcement Division chief Zulkarnain Mohd Yasin, who said investigations had found that such illegal service was offered through short messaging service (SMS), run by a local using special equipment.

Zulkarnain was further quoted to have said that although certain ‘off-the-air’ equipment had been used without the aid of existing telecommunication network, the MCMC managed to identify the party that was providing the platform.

On this, Abdul Karim remarked: “I’m glad to hear that MCMC has identified a new mode of gambling services via online and SMS (platforms). (However) I hope it would not stop there.

“We want to see the culprits be charged in court and then penalised.

“We also want those in the civil service and agencies who are in cahoots with them (syndicate) to be reprimanded too.”

In his view, Abdul Karim said there had been an overkill of news highlighting successful raids and confiscation of gambling items by MCMC and other enforcement agencies.

Abdul Karim cautions against hasty reaction to racist posting by JIM

September 7, 2014

KUCHING: People in the state should not be unduly alarmed with the Facebook posting by a group claiming to be Jemaah Isis Malaysia (JIM) calling for the beheading of Dayaks in the state.

Asajaya assemblyman Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah said all peace loving Sarawakians were very angry with the posting, but the people needed to be cautious.

“Angry…yes we are angry…all peace loving Malaysians and Sarawakians of any ethnic race are angry with such despicable and irresponsible statement by the so-called JIM.

“But we need to be cautious because JIM might be those in our midst who are out to create tension and cause rift among peaceful and harmonious Sarawakians,” Abdul Karim said in his text message.

The posting, which has gone viral, had led many Dayak-based non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and political parties across the state to lodge police reports.

“In the first place, who is JIM?” Abdul Karim also Assistant Minister of Youth Development asked.

Kenakan tindakan tegas pengguna laman sosial lagakan rakyat

September 4, 2014

KUCHING: Cegah sebelum parah, mungkin ungkapan yang sesuai bagi menggambarkan situasi dalam media sosial sejak kebelakangan ini yang ada antaranya menyentuh sensitiviti agama atau perkauman.

Menteri Muda Pembangunan Belia Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah berkata Suruhanjaya Komunikasi dan Multimedia Malaysia (SKMM) dan agensi kerajaan berkaitan mesti bertindak tegas terhadap mana-mana individu yang melakukan khianat dan melaga-lagakan rakyat menerusi laman sosial.

“Laman sosial seperti Facebook adalah bagus sebagai penghubung jika ia digunakan dengan baik tetapi ia juga boleh digunakan oleh mereka yang tidak bertanggungjawab untuk melakukan khianat dan melaga-lagakan rakyat.

“SKMM dan agensi-agensi kerajaan yang bertanggungjawab memantau anasir-anasir jahat ini mesti bertindak tegas dan jangan ambil ringan perkara ini.

“Jangan bila sudah merebak di segenap pelosok negara baharu hendak ambil tindakan,” katanya semalam diminta mengulas mengenai sikap pengguna media sosial yang menghina kaum dan agama dalam perbincangan di alam maya.

Malah, Karim berkata penggunaan Facebook di negara ini juga harus dikawal selia dengan baik bagi mengelak perkara tersebut daripada terus berleluasa.

“Pemilik akaun mesti didaftar dan kod etika pengguna mesti disenaraikan,” katanya.

Karim aye to regulation on Facebook

August 12, 2014

KUCHING: Assistant Youth Development Minister Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah believes that the usage and access to Facebook should be regulated.

Abdul Karim said it was high time that the government, through Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC), regulate the usage of social media and register those who use it.

This was because some users of Facebook and other social media channels had been spewing racial and religious hatred through their postings.

“Through this way, the government can instill responsibility on these users and don’t let them use Facebook or other mode of cyber communications to create disharmony, unrest or racial incitement,” he said when contacted yesterday.

The Asajaya assemblyman was asked to comment on Communications and Multimedia Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Shabery Cheek’s recent statement that the government would study whether it was necessary to bar access to Facebook following cases of abuse through the social website.

Ahmad Shabery said his ministry was conducting studies to gather public views on the matter.

Meanwhile, PKR Stampin branch secretary Desmond Kho, when contacted, said the Communications and Multimedia Ministry must take the studies seriously to determine whether the access to Facebook was detrimental to the society.

Review cyber law for teeth — Abdul Karim

January 21, 2014

SIBU: The government needs to review the cyber law, including tightening and enforcing it to prevent abuse that could stir unrest, Assistant Minister of Youth Development Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah said yesterday.

RFM udah berengkah ngerembaika berita

March 27, 2013

KUCHING: Radio Free Sarawak (RFS) diatu udah bisi menyadi ke mega sebuah stesyen radio ke dikumbai Radio Free Malaysia (RFM), udah berengkah naburka berita malam ensanus (25 March).

Menteri Pemansang Tanah, Tan Sri Dr James Jemut Masing (gambar) enda tekenyit ati enggau penumbuh stesyen radio nya sebedau pengawa bepilih besai tu.

Taja pia, iya arapka stesyen nya enda ngena arus nya bebulaka rayat.

“Kala ke diatu sida bisi arus penabur, aku nadai mayuh jaku tang semina ngelalau RFS, RFM enggau Radio Kenyalang, arus radio nya ukai dikena naburka pemula ngagai rayat,” pia ku peresiden Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) nya.

Berebak enggau nya, kaban kunsil tinggi Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB), Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah madah, stesyen radio nya dipejalaika nengah chara belalai, nya semina deka ngeruga pengelikun, pengelantang rayat enggau penegap menua.

Iya minta raban ke bekaul enggau pekara nya baka Opis Menteri Dalam Nengeri (KDN) enggau Kunsil penyambung Enggau Multimedia Malaysia (MCMC) ngemeratka pekara tu sereta nyekat semua stesyen radio nya.

“Nama kebuah muntang amat sida ngepunka Radio Free Malaysia ti bejaika perintah? Enti menua bukai ulih nyekat stesyen radio ti dipejalaika nengah chara belalai, nama kebuah menua kitai enda ulih?,” ku iya.

Control of social media should go beyond election — Abdul Karim

Posted on March 5, 2013, Tuesday

SIBU: While applauding the move to control the use of social media this 13th general election, Assistant Minister of Youth Development Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah feels the restriction should be extended to everyday use of the Internet.

For this, the Asajaya assemblyman said the laws in Malaysia on this matter needed to be strengthened.

“I am sure we should not allow defamatory and seditious words to be used against another. And we should not allow a person to incite ill-will towards a race and another person,” he said yesterday.

He also feels that concerted efforts are needed to educate the public on proper ethics and manners in using social media.

He was asked to respond to Bernama’s report on Sunday that the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) was looking into suitable methods to monitor and control the use of social media during the impending election.

Deputy Information, Communications and Culture Minister Datuk Maglin Dennis D’Cruz reportedly said the move was to ensure the social media would not be abused by irresponsible quarters to achieve their political agenda.

Maglin was further quoted to have said that MCMC would monitor all users of social media, regardless of their political beliefs, to ensure peace and smooth running of the election.

Karim: Programmes that engage youths critical

March 19, 2012

KUCHING: The government is working hard to tailor programmes and agendas to suit the interests of youth, who make up the highest percentage of voters.

Youth Development Assistant Minister Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah said the government is closely monitoring the needs of the youth to ensure the group was not left behind in terms of development and government agendas.

“We are keen to ensure that they are not left behind. They make a huge difference in terms of ideology as their thinking are different to the older generations,” said Karim.

He said this to reporters after participating in the ‘Senam Seni Sihat 1Malaysia’ at Kuching Waterfront yesterday.

In order to lure the younger generations to register as voters, it is the duty of both the government component parties and the opposition parties to conduct voter registration to ensure those eligible to vote exercise their responsibility as Malaysian citizens.

Staff of government agencies such as the Information Department, Malaysia Communication and Multimedia Commission, Pos Malaysia Bhd and the National Film Sarawak branch took part in the programme yesterday.

The event will be held monthly on every third Saturday at Kuching Waterfront.

PBB Youth wing praised for lodging police report

March 6, 2011

KUCHING: Chief Political Secretary to the Chief Minister, Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah praised the Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) Youth wing for lodging a police report against Radio Free Sarawak.

He said the movement had done a justified act because its members were trying to fight an evil cause aimed at creating disunity among the ‘rakyat’.

“It is my hope that Malaysian Communication and Multimedia Commission (MCMC), Home Ministry (KDN) and police would investigate and (subsequently) take action against those involved,” he said when met during the BN Convention at the Borneo Convention Centre Kuching (BCCK) yesterday.

He pointed out that all parties should be united in protecting the racial harmony that is being enjoyed by all.

The PBB youth wing led by its youth vice chief Pandi Suhaili lodged a police report against the radio station at the Simpang Tiga Police station last Friday.

Pandi, when interviewed at the police station, said the wing was responding to a statement made by the Deputy Minister of Information, Communication and Culture Datuk Joseph Salang that MCMC could take action against the radio station if a report were lodged with the police.

“The rakyat feel uneasy (with the radio station) because they know it is operating illegally. It is not good for the country because Malaysia is multi-racial and its existence hinges on mutual respect among its citizens,” said Pandi.

Taib is a jewel of Sarawak -Karim

February 23, 2011

Abdul Karim says PBB leaders all for him to continue as chief minister

BINTULU: Leaders of Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) have always given support to Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud to continue as chief minister and never raised the issue of his retirement or forced him to step down.

Chief political secretary to the chief minister Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah said Taib should be given the opportunity to be chief minister for another term because of his ability in designing and implementing the state’s development.

Abdul Karim, who is also a PBB supreme council member, said Taib was a politician willing to sacrifice his life for the welfare of the people.

“Pehin Sri (Taib) is like a jewel to the people of Sarawak and a leader who is very hard to find,” he said when asked to comment on Taib’s statement that he would retire after the state election at a function in Balingian recently.

Taib will celebrate his 30th anniversary as chief minister in May this year.

Asked about the various allegations brought up by the opposition and online media against Taib and state BN leaders, Abdul Karim said: “There is not much we can do (to solve the problem), just hope that those who are exposed to the Internet would not easily believe what is written.

“This is not the democracy that we should practise and teach the younger generation.”

Commission to give out more netbooks

By SHARON LING
sharonling@thestar.com.my
Tuesday August 31, 2010

MORE netbooks will be distributed in Sarawak before the end of the year by the Malaysian Communi­ca­tions and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) under the National Broadband Initiative (NBI).

State regional director Zulkarnain Mohd Yasin said some 14,500 netbooks had already been given out in 29 areas in the first phase of distribution.

“In the first phase, we focused on areas where we have set up community broadband centres, with 500 netbooks for each area,” he told reporters after a netbook presentation ceremony at SMK Asajaya, about 70km from Kuching, yesterday.

He said a second phase of distribu­tion would be implemented as part of efforts to increase the broadband penetration rate in the country.

Valuable tool: Abdul Karim (left) presenting netbooks to students of SMK Asajaya in

Kuching while MCMC state regional director Zulkarnain Mohd Yasin (right) looks

on.

Under the NBI announced by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak in March, a total of one million netbooks will be distributed to underprivileged students nationwide to enable them to access the Internet.

Chief political secretary to the Chief Minister Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah, who presented the netbooks to 250 students of SMK Asajaya, said the scheme was a good way to reduce the communication gap between the students and the wider world.

“The netbooks will provide a new way for students to obtain information. They will be able to learn not only in school and the library but also access the Internet for information,” he said.