Curtail gambling habit, urges Karim

November 1, 2015

SIBU: Any games of chance that can lure people into picking up gambling habits should be curtailed, says Assistant Minister of Youth Development Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah.

Abdul Karim, who is Asajaya assemblyman, stressed that prompt action needs to be taken to prevent especially the youths from getting ‘hooked’ on the bad habit.

He said this yesterday when asked on concerns by members of public on certain centres hosting the ‘Fishing Game’ which was said to be a form of gambling reported in the media recently.

“Yes…it is not just the public who are concerned but the government and political leaders from both BN and the opposition are concerned with the ‘sprouting’ of cyber gambling centres offering various types of wager… whether it’s “Fishing games”, “Monkey games” or even “one arm bandit”.

“Any game of chance or any form of gambling which could entice youths or public picking up gambling habits should be curtailed.

“We have seen many of these centres mushrooming and we do admit the authorities are doing many raids to check on this.

“We hope the police and councils can beef up their efforts to eradicate these gambling premises instead of sweeping it under the carpet and/or telling off Wakil Rakyat who raised this matter up as if they have “lost touch with the ground”,” Abdul Karim told the sundaypost.

Essential to have community spirit among neighbours,says Karim

November 08, 2013

KUCHING: The sense of neighbourliness and harmony among the community must be enhanced as the city of Kuching is now experiencing rapid urbanisation with migration from rural areas.

As the state is facing rapid development it is feared that the community spirit would tend to fade. Therefore effort to inculcate the spirit of neighbourhood must be enhanced to foster closer relationship among neighbours. 

Assistant Minister of Housing and Sports (Youth Development), Datuk Abd Karim Rahman Hamzah said that it was essential to have community spirit among neighbours.

“Other finding that also caught my attention are those that affect the neighborhoods. These factors are employment, ethnicity, type of house, house prices, the residence and the existence of neighborhood Watch committee. 

“By knowing these factors, its is hoped that the authorities are able to conduct appropriate action plans to further enhance the community spirits within the existing neighborhood,” he said during his speech at the closing ceremony of ‘Wacana Minda’ My Neighbours, My Friends held at The Regency Rajah Court Hotel, here on Wednesday. 

He noted that compared to town areas the rural community or those living at the town’s out-skirts were still upholding community spirits with various efforts taken to foster the spirit of neighbourliness such as the establishment of neighbourhood watch not only to keep the neighbourhood safe but also a chance to get to know each other better. 

From the survey conducted by MPP, MBKS and DBKU on neighbourliness in housing estates in Kuching, Karim said it was at a satisfactory level. 

Semangat kejiranan di Kuching dikategorikan baik - Abdul Karim

November 8, 2013

ABDUL Karim Rahman Hamzah (duduk, tengah) bersama para peserta selepas majlis penutupan Wacana Minda Jiranku, Sahabatku di Kuching, Sarawak, kelmarin.

KUCHING 8 Nov. - Semangat kejiranan di sekitar bandar raya ini baik di kawasan kampung tradisi mahupun perumahan moden masih boleh dikategorikan sebagai baik dan 'sihat'.

Menteri Muda Perumahan negeri, Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah berkata, kesimpulan itu dibuat berdasarkan kajian bertajuk 'A Survey On Neighbourliness in Housing Estates in Kuching' yang dilakukan Majlis Pembangunan Sosial Sarawak tahun lalu.

"Kajian ini mendapati tahap kejiranan di kampung-kampung dan kawasan perumahan moden di bawah pentadbiran Dewan Bandaraya Kuching Utara (DBKU), Majlis Bandaraya Kuching Selatan (MBKS) dan Majlis Perbandaran Padawan (MPP) adalah memuaskan.

"Hasil kajian ini boleh dikatakan satu berita gembira, namun saya yakin ada banyak ruang yang masih boleh diperbaiki bagi memastikan nilai-nilai murni ini terus dipertahankan walaupun bandar-bandar besar seperti Kuching semakin pesat membangun," katanya.

Beliau berkata demikian ketika penutupan Wacana Minda: Jiranku, Sahabatku anjuran Majlis Pembangunan Sosial Sarawak di sini semalam.

Mengulas lanjut, Abdul Karim berkata, dinding penghalang yang wujud selama ini terutama di kawasan bandar boleh dihapuskan menerusi penubuhan organisasi khas seperti Jawatankuasa Kawasan Rukun Tetangga (KRT).

"Terdapat pelbagai faktor yang mempengaruhi semangat kejiranan seperti pekerjaan, etnik dan jenis rumah. Justeru, kita perlu merancang pelan tindakan sesuai untuk meningkatkan nilai-nilai murni ini atau sekurang-kurangnya mengekalkan tahap yang ada sekarang," katanya.

Karim nafi akan lawan Fadilah

August 27, 2013

KUCHING: Ahli Majlis Tertinggi (AMT) Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah menafi khabar angin mengatakan beliau akan bertanding untuk jawatan ketua pemuda pada konvensyen parti nanti.

Abdul Karim yang juga Ahli Dewan Undangan Negeri (ADUN) Asajaya berkata, beliau telah melalui era Pemuda dan tidak berminat untuk bertanding bagi merebut jawatan tersebut.

“Jika terdapat khabar angin seperti itu kedengaran, ia cuma sembang kosong sahaja,” ujar Abdul Karim ketika ditemui selepas merasmikan Mesyuarat Perwakilan Cawangan PBB Batu Kawa di sebuah hotel kelmarin.

Menurutnya, Pemuda kini mempunyai ketua yang berkebolehan iaitu Datuk Fadillah Yusof dan beliau yakin Pemuda akan dijaga dengan baik olehnya.

“Saya tidak pasti sama ada Fadillah akan mempertahankan jawatannya, namun jika beliau berbuat demikian saya yakin beliau akan mampu berkhidmat dengan baik untuk bahagian Pemuda parti,” jelas Abdul Karim.

Sementara itu, beliau turut memberitahu bahawa sesi pemilihan cawangan serta ranting parti di seluruh negeri berjalan dengan lancar walaupun sesetengah daripadanya mengalami perubahan dari segi pucuk pimpinan.

“Ia merupakan perkara biasa dalam amalan demokrasi di mana kita akan melihat beberapa perubahan baharu dalam sesi pemilihan perwakilan cawangan dan ranting.