Oktoberfest is acceptable, but not a beer drinking festival — Abdul Karim

October 15, 2018

KUCHING, Oct 15: Minister of Tourism, Arts, Culture, Youth and Sports Minister Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah opined that the Miri Neon Beer Festival should have been themed as ‘Miri Oktoberfest’, to take into account the sensitivity that Muslims are forbidden from consuming alcohol.

On a personal note, he said he had no objection to the holding of Oktoberfest, which originates in Germany and is a cultural and food festival. Just like any other cultural and food festivals in the West, there is bound to be plenty of food, music and drinks.

“Germans are known for their love of beers, and drinking beers are a common sight at all Oktoberfest festivals. But that does not mean that all must drink. Those who don’t drink alcohol can always choose to drink non-alcoholic drinks.

‘Slamming of Umno-PAS pact by opposition reeks of hypocrisy’

October 15, 2017

SIBU: DAP Sarawak chairman Chong Chieng Jen and state PKR chairman Baru Bian should not become the ‘stooges of unhealthy politics of the west’, and that they need to relook at themselves before questioning Sarawak Barisan Nasional (BN).

In making this statement, Minister of Tourism, Arts, Culture, Youths and Sports Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah said the condemnation by Chong and Baru of the purported Umno-PAS alliance only showed their hypocrisy, in that PAS was once under the Pakatan pact.

He recalled that when PAS was in Pakatan, it was regarded as a loyal partner and nothing was mentioned about it being ‘an evil party’.

No issue in Umno-PAS pact, says Abd Karim

October 13, 2017

State minister welcomes Umno’s overture to PAS if it brings unity, strengthens Barisan Nasional

KUCHING: Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) supreme council member Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah is all for any move that unites Malaysians.

Hence, he saw no issue in United Malays National Organisation (Umno) combining forces with Parti Islam Se-Malaysia (PAS) in Peninsular Malaysia, saying it will make Barisan Nasional (BN) stronger in the coming general election.

“Anything that can bring strength and unity to BN and Malaysia is very much welcome and if this electoral pact could serve that purpose, then why not?” he said when contacted yesterday.

No issue with Umno-PAS electoral pact – Abdul Karim

October 12, 2017

KUCHING: Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) supreme council member Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah sees no issue with Umno combining forces with PAS in Peninsular Malaysia to make BN stronger in the coming general election.

“Anything that could bring strength and unity to BN and Malaysia is very much welcome and if this electoral pact could serve that purpose, then why not?”

“What is important is that the pact must be able to unite Malaysians and not otherwise,” said the state Tourism Arts Culture Youth and Sports Minister when asked to comment on Umno giving the green light to its president Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak to negotiate with PAS leaders on the electoral pact.

Abdul Karim foresees Pakatan Harapan Sarawak breaking up soon

March 21, 2017

SIBU: It is just a matter of time before members of the newly formed Pakatan Harapan Sarawak scramble for seats and fight each other as they have different agendas and goals.

Hence, whether it is Pakatan Rakyat or Pakatan Harapan or Pakatan with or without PAS or Pakatan with or without Amanah makes no difference to Sarawak Barisan Nasional (BN) or the people of Sarawak, said Assistant Minister for Youth and Sports Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah.

“It is just a loose pact of political parties which have separate agendas and goals in their struggle. 

This loose pact is just meant for the 14th general election…unlike BN, where the coalition is permanent and having a common BN struggle for the people’s wellbeing and the nation.

“Pakatan pact can be easily summarised as a pack of political parties sleeping together but having different dreams. 

THANK YOU to Sarawak PKR and its chairman Baru Bian

January 27, 2017

KUCHING: Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) has been credited for its commitment in not contesting in the upcoming Tanjong Datu by-election.

Assistant Minister for Housing Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah said by not contesting in the by-election, PKR had shown maturity in their political struggle and also showed that it did not oppose just for the sake of opposing.

“I would like to thank the state PKR and Baru Bian (Ba Kelalan assemblyman and state PKR chairman) for their gracious commitment in not contesting

in Tanjong Datu by-election as a mark of respect for (Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri) Adenan (Satem) and for his effort to bring back our diminished rights. Such effort will go a long way in uniting Sarawakians,” he told The Borneo Post yesterday.

Baru, in announcing the party’s decision not to contest in Tanjong Datu by-election on Wednesday, said it was a gesture to let Chief Minister Datuk Amar Abang Johari Tun Openg and the state government continue implementing the vision and policies that Adenan made for Sarawak while he was the chief minister.

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PBB man shoots back at PAS ulama chief

June 2, 2016

Abdul Karim Hamzah says Mahfodz needs to widen his knowledge of Islam.

PETALING JAYA: Sarawak’s Assistant Minister of Housing, Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah has denounced PAS Ulama Council Chairman Mahfodz Mohamed for issuing what he called an “unIslamic” statement that belittled Sarawak Muslims.

The PBB strongman told FMT that Mahfodz needed to widen his knowledge of Islam. He was reacting to a news report in which Mahfodz was quoted as saying that Sarawak Muslims were not practising the true Islamic way of life.

Karim said it was wrong for Mahfodz to say that Sarawak Muslims were ignorant just because they did not support PAS.

He accused PAS of holding to a false interpretation of Islam, recalling that the party once attached the “infidel” label to Malays who supported Umno.

“Mahfodz himself is not guaranteed a place in heaven,” he said. “Yet he has accused his fellow Muslims of not living an Islamic way of life.”

Karim said Sarawak probably had the most organised bait ul-mal (Islamic treasury) and mosque management in the country.

“We don’t need PAS to tell Sarawak Muslims how to do things,” he said. “We just want to tell the party that God despises those who want to create disunity in the Muslim community.”

Mohd Ali moved to Stakan, Karim to defend Asajaya

April 4, 2016

Adenan lifts the hands of Karim (left) and Mohd Ali after they were confirmed as candidates for Asajaya and Stakan respectively.

Adenan admiring a framed photo of himself when
he was attending a World Health Day celebration
in Samarahan in 1987.

KOTA SAMARAHAN: As speculated, Muara Tuang assemblyman Datuk Seri Mohd Ali Mahmud will be fielded in the new constituency of Stakan in the coming state election.

Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Adenan Satem, who announced this during the launching of PBB Samarahan election machinery in Dewan Suarah Kota Samarahan yesterday, however, did not reveal the candidate for Muara Tuang. With Mohd Ali, who has been Muara Tuang assemblyman for two terms, moving to Stakan, this means Muara Tuang will have a new face from PBB.

Adenan also announced that Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah will defend Asajaya, the seat he has represented since 2001. Asajaya, Muara Tuang and Stakan are under the Samarahan constituency.

Adenan entertains the crowd by singing a song before the function starts

“For Muara Tuang, leave it to me to decide. Do you agree with me?” he asked the crowd, which was immediately met with voices of their approval. Talks are rife that PBB supreme council member and former senator Datuk Idris Buang

PBB Muara Tuang Deputy Chairman cum State
PBB Youth Treasurer Hamzah Ibrahim leads
the pledge of loyalty to the party. 

would be fielded in Muara Tuang. Muara Tuang is no strange land to Adenan who was its assemblyman from 1978 to 2006.

On another matter, Adenan reiterated that PBB would contest in 40 seats in the coming polls.

He added that if PBB won all 40 seats, the party could get a simple majority to form the government with several seats from other BN components, but he said that was not what the party was aiming for. “We don’t want a simple win. We want the win to be as big as possible.”

He also mentioned that the 11 new seats were being distributed based on 5-2-2-2 formula with the other three BN components.

No quarter shown if PAS goes up against BN

December 27, 2015

Sibu: PBB Supreme Council member Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah welcomed PAS' decision to contest in more than 10 constituencies in the next state election.

He said Malaysia is a democratic country, therefore any registered political party could contest anywhere they wanted.

However, Abdul Karim didn't believe that PAS could do better because in the past it was defeated badly with almost all candidates losing their deposits.
 

‘Don’t be alarmed over Unimas-UEC issue’

November 8, 2015 

SIBU: Assistant Minister of Youth Development Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah is calling for calm amidst the dissatisfaction that arises following the announcement by Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (Unimas) that it will not recognise Unified Examination Certificate (UEC) as among its entry qualifications.

He assured all that there would be a positive outcome later but it would take time and discussions for the matter which was under federal jurisdiction.

“Do not be alarmed. The state government and our Chief Minister (Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Adenan Satem) had only announced the state’s recognition of UEC.

“(However) education education matters and policies are decided by Putrajaya. As such, Unimas being a public university is guided by the Higher Institution Ministry when it comes to enrolment.

“I believe adjustments would be made pursuant to our state government’s recognition of UEC — if not for all public universities (in Malaysia), it could be for public universities in Sarawak.

“This would take a little bit of time and discussion,” he told thesundaypost yesterday.

Abdul Karim added that if the discussions were held between the state and federal governments, with both being held by Barisan Nasional (BN), the possibility of it (recognition of UEC by public universities) coming to a ‘happy ending’ would be much higher.

Baru’s comments on Najib draw flak from Abdul Karim

October 21, 2015

SIBU: Assistant Minister of Youth Development Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah yesterday blasted state PKR chairman Baru Bian’s comments on Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.

Abdul Karim, who is Asajaya assemblyman, said this only reflected that Baru had run out of issues on Sarawak and his attempt to be seen as still relevant as an opposition leader.

Appalled by Baru’s comments and his views on Najib’s statement, the PBB Supreme Council member, added: “Firstly, Baru’s flip flop comment on PKR relationship with DAP on state Pakatan Rakyat reflects his incapability in steering state PKR.

“At one point, he is seen as ‘true and true’ with PAS and would not stab this Pakatan partner.

“Suddenly he is toying with the idea of accepting the new ‘Parti Amanah’ and working things out with DAP/Amanah in the next election.”

He was commenting on Ba Kelalan assemblyman’s statement that he (Baru) was appalled by Najib’s effrontery in continuing to make statements, which he claimed the ‘rakyat’ (people) were tired of hearing and which only the most gullible die-hard Barisan Nasional (BN) supporters would believe.

Abdul Karim said Baru had now run out of issues against state BN and the chief minister and had resorted to ‘attacking’ Najib.

Amanah will die a natural death in Sarawak

September 9, 2015

KUCHING: PBB supreme council member Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah believed Parti Amanah Negara (Amanah) would not be able to make any impact in Sarawak.

Being a splinter party, the Asajaya assemblyman doubted if Amanah could live up to its name.

“Amanah will die a natural death especially in Sarawak. It is a party that does not have a specific struggle. It comes about when their leaders got ousted from PAS national elections and they decided to set up their own,” he said.

“In West Malaysia, they claimed to be an Islamic party but in Sarawak, in their effort to win the heart of their DAP partner, they leave matters to their Amanah local leaders to decide their own direction,” he added.

“This is a party which ‘follows the tide’…during high tide, it will go upstream. When it’s low tide, it will go downstream,” he stressed.

Abdul Karim who is also Youth Development Assistant Minister believed Sarawakians would not want this kind of leaders and party in their midst.

“They have no vision on what they want in Sarawak and their leaders here are rejected candidates in past elections. They knowingly or unknowingly let themselves be ‘used’ by DAP in DAP’s agenda to split the Bumiputera. It’s a matter of time, their unholy alliance with DAP will be known and Sarawakians will show them the exit,’ he elaborated.

‘Rumoured opposition pact will be disproportionate’

September 5, 2015

SIBU: The rumoured new opposition pact consisting of the Democratic Action Party (DAP), Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) and Parti Amanah Negara (Amanah) has been called a “disproportionate relationship”.

Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) vice-president Datuk Talib Zulpilip said the rumoured union would likely see the DAP continuing to dominate.

“Initially, even when the partner parties of DAP, PKR and PAS (Parti Islam Se-Malaysia) were equally strong, there were already fundamental differences among them. It was then a marriage of convenience.

“What would emerge immediately is the disproportionate relationship in the new ‘Pakatan’. DAP will dominate. Sarawakians should be wary about this. The new outfit would be controlled by their big brothers in KL. They are not autonomous,” Talib told The Borneo Post yesterday.

He reckoned that if the opposition were to win seats in the election, they would be mainly held by DAP, leaving PKR and Amanah with reduced roles and influence.

“Amanah being new and their representatives rejected by PAS would nevertheless be used by DAP. It would be a tool,” he said.

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It is just a matter of time PR will collapse

 June 5, 2015

SIBU: Only BN can ensure stability, continuity and harmony of the nation as the opposition pact is constantly at loggerheads, said Assistant Minister of Youth Development Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah.

It would just be a matter of time before Pakatan Rakyat collapsed, he said when asked to comment on the move by PAS Dewan Ulama on Wednesday to unanimously pass an emergency motion to annul political cooperation (tahaluf siyasi) and to cut ties with the DAP.

Pahang PAS Dewan Ulama chief Mokhtar Senik, who tabled the motion, reportedly said the move was necessary as PAS’s political ally, the DAP, had officially cut ties with the PAS president.

Mokhtar also reportedly said Pakatan Rakyat was dissolved in Sarawak and Sabah due to pressure from the DAP, who not only disagreed and opposed, but lobbied PAS members to reject efforts to enhance the Kelantan Syriah Criminal Code enacted in 1993.

To this, Abdul Karim, who is also PBB Supreme Council member, said: “I see this moment coming from the day Pakatan Rakyat or PR was formed.

“PR was just a ‘marriage of convenience’ to appease the leaders of the three parties, which differ totally in their political struggles.

“It is just a matter of time this union collapses, and we can see it coming now.

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.

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State BN leaders welcome PAS support for integrity pledge

April 14, 2015

SIBU: The Integrity pledge is Barisan Nasional (BN)’s commitment towards a more transparent administration, free from corruption and abuse, Assistant Youth Minister Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah said yesterday.

He was responding to PAS’ declaration of support for state government in leading the way with the pledge.

“We welcome any positive comment, even from members of the opposition, on what we are doing as long as those positive comments are done in good faith,” Abdul Karim, who is also Asajaya assemblyman, added.

Last Monday, 26 BN elected representatives and 30 political secretaries signed the integrity pledge, while earlier on Jan 15, Adenan led his ministers and assistant ministers to sign similar pledge.

State cabinet members were also required to submit declarations of assets to Adenan and Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.

State PAS deputy commissioner III, Jofri Jaraiee had said the elected representatives should also declare their assets to avoid accusations of wealth accumulation after assuming office.

Abdul Karim said: “PAS Sarawak deputy commissioner should ask their counterparts especially in Kelantan, where they are the state government, to emulate what the Sarawak government and BN had done before asking us to do more.”

State DAP doesn’t need PKR or PAS to help them

April 4, 2015

SIBU: State DAP is running dry on issues and their latest move to go against hudud law proved it – knowing that PAS is not strong in Sarawak.

State BN secretary-general Datuk Dr Stephen Rundi was reacting to state DAP organising secretary Violet Yong’s statement, echoing party chief Chong Chieng Jen’s call to state PKR to quit Pakatan Rakyat (PR) Sarawak and work with them to form a new coalition.

“Hudud will not be implemented in Sarawak, therefore there is no issue here as clearly clarified by Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Adenan Satem.