BN’s winning streak shows people are ‘impatient, unhappy’ with PH — Karim

April 15, 2019

KUCHING: Barisan Nasional’s (BN) winning streak at by-elections held post-GE14 is a sign that the people are growing impatient and unhappy with the Pakatan Harapan (PH) federal government.

Tourism, Arts, Culture, Youth and Sports Minister Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah said the back-to-back-to-back wins for BN in Cameron Highlands, Semenyih and the latest Rantau by-election reflects the groundswell feeling of unhappiness among the people.

“The rakyat (people) are beginning to see all the promises, pledges and good governance promised by PH prior to GE14 are just lies and they are now throwing the bat back at PH,” he said when contacted yesterday on the result of the Rantau by-election, which saw incumbent Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan retain the seat for BN with 10,397 votes in a four-cornered contest on Saturday.

‘Immigration autonomy integral right of Sarawak in MA63’

September 19, 2018

KUCHING: Opposition MP, Umno stalwart and supreme council member Datuk Seri Mohd Nazri Abdul Aziz has been told to read back history books on how Malaysia was formed before making presumptions that Sarawak will lose its immigration autonomy upon gaining equal status with Sabah and Peninsular Malaysia as regions.

Tourism, Arts, Culture, Youth and Sports Minister Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah yesterday said immigration autonomy is an integral right of Sarawak and there should not be any compromise on it.

“Likewise, it’s the same with the status of Sarawak as signatory to the Malaysia Agreement.

“Sarawak penned the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) with Federation of Malaya and not with Perak or any of the Malayan states,” pointed out Abdul Karim, who is Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) vice president and Asajaya assemblyman.

Chong's support for Maszlee on English usage puzzling - Abdul Karim

September 8, 2018

SIBU: Deputy Minister of Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Chong Chieng Jen's support of Minister of Education's stand on English is a huge diversion from his previous stand and a betrayal to all Sarawakians, Minister of Tourism, Arts, Culture, Youth and Sports Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah suggests.

He pointed out that Chong should be aware of the special rights accorded to Sarawak including on the use of English in schools and official correspondences including in the Courts and State Legislative Assembly (DUN).

The Asajaya assemblyman was responding to Chong's statement in defending Dr Maszlee Malik over his comment that using English as the medium of instruction in schools would be illegal as it contravened the Federal Constitution.

Galeri: Kota Samarahan Municipal Council inaugural anniversary dinner

November 12, 2017

Tun Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud cuts the anniversary cake, witnessed by Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas (fifth right), Dato Peter Minos (second right), Local Government and Housing Minister Datuk Dr Sim Kui Hian (third right), Tourism, Arts, Culture, Youth and Sports Minister Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah (right), Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri (left) and Taib’s wife Toh Puan Datuk Patinggi Ragad Kurdi Taib (third left).

Abdul Karim: Vital to review death penalty legislation to restore judicial discretion

June 24, 2016

KUCHING: It is important for the government to review its death penalty legislation to restore judicial discretion in sentencing, said Assistant Minister for Youth and Sports Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah.

Lauding the move, he believes that sentencing is part of the cardinal principle of judicial independence that should be left to the judges.

He said with their experience in hearing cases, judges would take into account the peculiar facts and circumstances of each case as they make comprehensive consideration when meting out punishment.

He felt that mandatory sentences create an unnecessary fetter on judicial discretion and an unwarranted impediment to the administration of justice.

“I fully agree that the Malaysian Government should have a relook at its death penalty legislation. The area that needs serious consideration for amendment are offences where only one decision is provided, that is the mandatory death penalty.

“In such situation, the presiding judge does not have any other discretion in sentencing except to impose the death penalty. This type of legislation should be reviewed. The presiding judge must be empowered, after hearing the facts of the case, to impose the sentence,” the Asajaya assemblyman told The Borneo Post yesterday.

Abdul Karim was commenting on Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Nancy Shukri’s statement that the Attorney-General’s Chamber will prepare a paper on the amendments to the death penalty legislation for submission to the government.

Galeri: PBB Leader Meet the People Session for Batu Kawa and Batu Kitang constituencies

March 30, 2016

Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Adenan Satem alongside Minister of Housing Datuk Amar Abang Johari Tun Openg, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Nancy Shukri (fifth left), Assistant Minister of Housing Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah and PBB Batu Kawa branch chairman Datuk Ahmad Ibrahim (fourth left) fist pumping in solidarity during a group photo.

Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Adenan Satem singing Cliff Richard’s ‘The Young Ones’ while cheered by (from left) Assistant Minister of Housing Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah, Minister of Housing Datuk Amar Abang Johari Tun Openg, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Nancy Shukri, and PBB Batu Kawa branch chairman Datuk Ahmad Ibrahim.

Karim: Review needed to lessen load of guarantors

November 6, 2013

KUCHING: Greater efforts must be made to lessen the load of guarantors including changing and review existing laws.

Assistant Minister of Youth Development Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah said this is because guarantors made up a large number of those declared bankrupt.

He said being bankrupt at an early age could be a traumatic experience, especially if it is due to being a guarantor.

“It’s just like a ‘death penalty’ imposed on an innocent party. The public, whether they are young or old, should be made aware of the implications and dangers of being a guarantor to any facility given by a financial institution be it a personal loan or a loan for a car or a house.

“In the event of the principal borrower defaulting, the guarantors are jointly and severally liable in law to pay,” he told The Borneo Post when contacted yesterday.

He was commenting on a recent revelation by Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Nancy Shukri that 13,540 people were declared bankrupt due to their failure to repay hire purchase and business loans from January to September this year in Sarawak.

She said as a whole, many youths in the state aged between 35 and 44 were declared bankrupt due to credit card debts, vehicle hire purchase and housing loans.

 

Galeri: Majlis Ramah Taman Aidilfitri Peringkat Bahagian Samarahan

September 9, 2013

FESTIVE JOY: Taib cuts a giant ‘Ketupat’ to start the Hari Raya gathering. With him are (from third left) Nancy, Karim, Julaihi, Ali and Aidel (right). Photo by Muhammad Rais Sanusi.

Galeri: Majlis Pelancaran Ulangtahun ke-45 SMK Pesantren Abdul Taib Mahmud

June 16, 2013

45TH ANNIVERSARY… Chief Minister Pehin Sri Haji Abdul Taib Mahmud (seventh left) and his wife Puan
Sri Ragad Kurdi Taib (eighth left) are joined by Datuk Daud Abdul Rahman (fourth left), Aidel Lariwoo
(sixth left), Hajah Nancy Shukri (seventh right) and others in cutting the anniversary cake, as Haji Julaihi Narawi
(left), Haji Karim Rahman Hamzah (second left), Datuk Wan Wahab Wan Sanusi (right) and others look on.
PHOTO: RAMIDI SUBARI

Two businessmen and Asajaya district officer in the fray for Kota Samarahan

By RINTOS MAIL rintos@thestar.com.my

Friday January 11, 2013

KUCHING: The list of potential candidates to replace Kota Samarahan MP Datuk Seri Sulaiman Abdul Taib has been narrowed down to three from at least five previously.

The three are businessmen Hamzah Ibrahim and Ismawi Mohamad and Asajaya district officer Rubiah Wang.

Except for Rubiah, both Hamzah and Ismawi are PBB members. Hamzah, who is also formerly a PBB Youth exco, is currently Muara Tuang PBB deputy chief while Ismawi is PBB Kpg Baru, Kota Samarahan deputy youth chief.

Sources close to PBB said Hamzah and Ismawi’s names were recommended by two different groups in the party. All three are locals with Rubiah from Kampung Tanjong Parang in Kota Samarahan.

The source said the party was expected to have a tough time to pick who among the three to be the candidate.

According to the source, the party’s top leadership is keen on fielding a woman candidate but the majority of its grassroots members want a male candidate.

Previously, at least five names were mentioned to replace Sulaiman, who has informed the party he was not keen to seek a re-election.