No one jumping ship from Sarawak ruling coalition, says PBB veep

August 7, 2018

Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu vice-president Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah denies report that several elected representatives of the Gabungan Parti Sarawak coalition plan to quit.

KUALA LUMPUR: A Sarawak state leader today brushed off talk that nine elected representatives would be leaving the Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) coalition.

Berita Harian reported that the nine had lost confidence in GPS’ top leadership, particularly Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB), which is the largest party in GPS.

But PBB vice-president Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah, in responding to the claims, said he was confident that no one from his party was jumping ship.

PRS, Masing should not dictate GPS structure, setup’

June 18, 2018

SIBU: Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) and Tan Sri Datuk Amar Dr James Jemut Masing should not dictate on how Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) structure and setup should be.

According to Minister of Tourism, Arts, Culture, Youth and Sports Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah, GPS has just been set up and yet to be fine-tuned.

“GPS is even not registered with Registrar of Societies (ROS) yet. Why use the media to put in your terms and conditions?

“This are matters that are supposed to be discussed in close-door (meetings) among ‘members’ who aspire to be members and a part of this coalition,” he said today.

Keluar BN demi hubungan dengan kerajaan pusat - Abdul Karim

June 13, 2018

Abdul Karim (duduk, tengah) bersama tetamu kehormat lain bergambar dengan wakil-wakil media yang hadir pada Majlis Berbuka Puasa anjuran Lembaga Pelancongan Sarawak di BCCK, semalam.

KUCHING: Menteri Pelancongan, Kesenian, Kebudayaan, Belia dan Sukan, Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah menyifatkan tindakan empat parti komponen Sarawak keluar daripada Barisan Nasional (BN) sebagai satu perkembangan yang baik.

Dengan itu, katanya ia sedikit sebanyak akan dapat merapatkan lagi hubungan dan kerjasama dengan kerajaan pusat di bawah gabungan Pakatan Harapan (PH).

"Sebagai sebuah negeri yang masih lagi memerlukan pembangunan yang banyak, kita tidak boleh tersingkir dan menjauhi diri daripada kerajaan pusat," katanya pada Majlis Berbuka Puasa bersama Media anjuran Lembaga Pelancongan Sarawak di Pusat Konvensyen Borneo Kuching (BCCK) di sini, semalam.

More ‘ayes’ to making S’wak equal partner in Federation

October 25, 2016

Senior leaders of Sarawak BN parties back Chief Minister Adenan Satem's motion on Article 1(2) to be moved at the Sarawak Legislative Assembly.

KUCHING: Two Barisan Nasional (BN) leaders see the proposed motion in the Sarawak Assembly on Article 1(2) of the Federal Constitution as a timely move.

“Malaysia was formed based on the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) and related constitutional documents. All parties must respect these documents,” said a PBB Supreme Council Member Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah.

He argued it would be wrong to take the position that constitutional documents on Malaysia were no longer relevant with the Federal Constitution in place, Free Malaysia Today reported - quoting The Borneo Post report.

The bottom line, he said, was that many of Sarawak’s rights (as those of Sabah) had been eroded over the years.

“This has to be corrected,” summed up Karim. “The proposed motion is the first step,” he was quoted as saying.

Two earlier motions, on the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) and oil and gas, were passed unanimously.

Sabah and Sarawak, before the amendment, were equal partners of Malaya in the Federation of Malaysia.

State BN leaders attribute landslide win to ‘Adenan’ factor

May 9, 2016

SIBU: State BN leaders have attributed the landslide victory to the Adenan factor, winning 72 out of 82 seats in the just concluded 11th Sarawak Election.

They said the Chief Minister had created a ‘feel good’ factor.

PBB Supreme Council member Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah said: “He (Adenan) has created an ‘aura’ of confidence towards BN with his many good decisions since taking the helm of the state in the last two years.

“Sarawakian voters feel that he is a good leader and should be given the chance to lead.”

He said BN was also better prepared for the election this time around.

The avalanche of projects through ‘Rural Transformation Projects’ or RTP the last two years had created a ‘good feeling’ everywhere, which had now transformed into votes, noted Abdul Karim.

“The ‘good explanation’ of Adenan’s policy and decision through his criss-crossing the state and through programmes like ‘Sejiwa Senada’ has created a feeling of ‘real confidence’ in Adenan from all levels of society,” he said.

Tackling the ‘direct candidate’ issue

April 05, 2016

KUCHING: Chief Minister Tan Sri Adenan Satem will hold a press conference tomorrow on the issue of “Barisan Nasional direct candidates”, according to media invitations sent out yesterday.

The media invitations did not elaborate on the matter, except to say a “direct candidates” announcement would be made at the CM’s Wisma Bapa office at 2pm.

Leaders of Barisan component parties, SUPP and SPDP, declined to comment when contacted yesterday.

Similarly, members of their breakaway parties, UPP and Teras, would not reveal much.

In the past, Barisan direct candidates referred to those contesting under the Barisan ticket without a component party.

Previous examples include Datuk James Dawos and Billy Abit Joo, who later joined Barisan’s PBB and PRS.

But for the coming polls, Adenan has not made clear the mechanisms of direct candidacies.

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.

Abdul Karim hopes SPDP-PRS merger for unity of Dayaks

August 20, 2015

KUCHING: Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) supreme council member Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah hopes the merger between Sarawak Progressive Democratic Party (SPDP) and Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) will be for the good of the rural Bumiputera community.

He said it would be good if both parties decided to merge as their leaders had always advocated unity of the Dayaks.

“I’m glad this idea (merger) has cropped up again, but hopefully it’s for real, that is, for the unity of the rural Bumiputera and not any other agenda,” Abdul Karim, who is Assistant Youth Development Minister, said in his WhatsApp message yesterday.

He was asked on a report yesterday that SPDP had resolved to work towards merger with PRS by enhancing cooperation and understanding with its fellow Barisan Nasional (BN) component party.

The resolution was made at SPDP supreme council meeting held at a leading hotel in Miri on Sunday and a statement issued by its supreme council member, among others, stated that the party would seriously reach out to PRS to realise the joint proposal made by the two parties some years ago.

According to Abdul Karim, the idea of merger between the two parties had been “on and off” many times, like the Malay saying ‘tengelam timbul’.

“If we look back at history, SPDP and PRS are like two children of the same parents that have parted ways,” he said, explaining that they were off-shoots of BN.

Umno branch for S’wakians in Johor? Karim says aye

May 11, 2015

KUCHING: Johor Umno Liaison Committe chairman Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin on Saturday proposed the setting up of an Umno branch for Sarawakians in Pasir Gudang parliament constituency.

Bernama quoted the Johor Menteri Besar as saying the proposal would encourage the community to participate in politics to ensure their welfare and needs were well looked after.

“With this representation, the welfare of the Sarawak community in the state will be looked after better, and they will also have a place for their voices to be heard,” he was reported as suggesting during the Pre-Gawai 2015 launching ceremony on Saturday night.

According to him, there were between 30,000 and 40,000 Sarawakians living in the state who should be given privileges as they had resided in Johor for a long time, were supportive of the government, and had contributed to the economy.

Yesterday, The Borneo Post reporter Jonathan Chia contacted three state BN leaders, and their comments were mixed.

PRS president Tan Sri Dauk Amar Dr James Masing is strongly against the idea while PBB supreme council members Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah and Dato Sri Wan Junaidi Tuanku are receptive of it. Masing said he would not agree to such a set up. He cautioned that Sarawakians who joined Umno in Johor would eventually want Umno to set foot in Sarawak to look after their interests when they come back.

BN leaders back Sibu BN Youth Committee

March 23, 2015

SIBU: Several state Barisan Nasional (BN) leaders have praised the formation of the Sibu BN Youth Committee.

It comprises youth wing members from Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB), Sarawak United People’s Party (SUPP), Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) and Sarawak Progressive Democratic Party (SPDP).

Assistant Minister of Youth Development (Urban) Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah welcomed the formation of the committee.

“Definitely it will strengthen BN further in its preparation to win back all lost seats as well as retain all BN seats presently held by BN,” said the PBB supreme council member.

He concurred with opinions that young voters play a key role in deciding the government of the future.

“Young voters make up about more then half of all eligible voters. Their views and expectations cannot be put aside totally. They are a major force; not only in Sarawak but also in other states in Malaysia. They are an educated lot and have a mind of their own.

“They can analyse and rationalise whatever the government and BN are doing as well as the opposition. Yes, I fully agree that those that could get the support of the young voters will win the next state as well as the next 14th general election,” he said.

DAP nadai netapka berapa sitak deka dipasuk parti nya maya PRN tu

February 25, 2015

SIBU: Parti Tindakan Demokratik (DAP) nadai netapka berapa sitak DUN ke deka dipasuk dalam pengawa bepilih kunsil nengeri (PRN) ti deka datai tang pengundi ngembuan hak nentuka ni bagi parti ke ulih mai ubah ngagai sida.

Chairman DAP Nengeri Sarawak, Chong Chieng Jen madah, parti nya deka bediri pemadu kurang dalam 30 kerusi DUN dalam PRN ti deka datai tu.

Ku iya, DAP deka nulung ngelempungka tanggungpengawa ke ditapi Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) lebih agi nayup PKR ba sekeda menua pesisir nyengkaum sekeda sitak di kandang mengeri.

Chong’s posting on national anthem rattles political leaders

September 18, 2014

KUCHING: Bandar Kuching MP Chong Chieng Jen’s statement to denounce the playing of Negara Ku in cinemas on Malaysia Day has received angry reaction from political leaders.

Chong, in his Facebook page, among others wrote, “Is Malaysia heading towards the communist Mao era where everywhere you go, you must shout loud and show that you are patriotic?”

Chong has subsequently apologised for his comment and subsequently retracted the posting.

Chief political secretary to Chief Minister Abdullah Saidol, said although Chong has apologised and retracted the posting, the first impression mattered most.

“I am surprise and disgusted at the same time over the comment and attitude of a Malaysian citizen, who is an elected representative. Although he (Chong) subsequently acknowledged his comment as inappropriate, his first impression about the subject (national anthem) counts,” Abdullah said.

The Semop assemblyman said many people have read the comment, and Chong should be ashamed of himself.

“How dare he (Chong) compare us to Mao’s communist era,” Abdullah said, adding it was not wrong to stand for a few minutes in cinemas while the National Anthem was playing.

Abdullah believed many people were able to judge by themselves the despicable attitude shown by Chong and that “speaks loud about who he is and what he represents”.

Abdul Karim: New parties bring new equation to polls

July 19, 2014

SIBU: The coming state election is set to be an interesting affair following the emergence of new political parties but BN will still prevail, PBB Supreme Council member Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah said yesterday.

He believed that an amicable solution could be found to resolve the current political development without exerting a strain on the coalition.

“People can see that only BN has the capability and experience to govern and administer the state. The opposition is merely ‘empty drums’ that make a lot of noise, but doesn’t have the experience to govern a big state like Sarawak.

“But being a democratic country, they do have a role to play as a responsible opposition.

“The presence of new political parties and especially those from SPDP and SUPP that has set up new parties but still declare they are supporting BN and even sitting in the state cabinet, will make the forthcoming election interesting,” Abdul Karim, who is Assistant Minister of Youth Development and Asajaya assemblyman said.

In the latest development, Dato Sri Wong Soon Koh would lead the newly registered UPP (United People’s Party) and joining him were Datuk Dr Jerip Susil (Bengoh), Dr Johnical Rayong Ngipa (Engkilili) and Ranum Mina (Opar).

Tan Sri William Mawan Ikom, meanwhile, will continue to helm Parti Tenaga Rakyat Sarawak (Teras).

Karim kesal kenyataannya disalah erti Bakat Gira

July 4, 2014

KUCHING: Ada nada kesal diluahkan Ahli Majlis Tertinggi PBB Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah apabila kenyataan beliau sebelum ini disalah erti oleh Ketua Pemuda PRS Baleh Bakat Gira.

Menurut Karim, kenya-taan beliau sebelum ini tidak ada langsung menyebut tentang Parti Tenaga Rakyat Sarawak (TERAS) kerana isu itu cuma layak dibincangkan di peringkat BN Negeri dan Pusat.

Beliau juga katanya, tidak ada menyebut tentang penubuhan TERAS dan kesannya boleh memecah-belahkan masyarakat Dayak.

Malah beliau enggan diseret ke dalam isu berkaitan pe-mimpin-pemimpin Dayak.

“Jika ketua Pemuda PRS Baleh ingin mengheret saya ke dalam perbincangan perpecahan di kalangan masya-rakat Dayak susulan penubuhan TERAS, saya ingin memaklumkan ia bukan niat saya ketika memberi kenya-taan sebelum ini,” katanya menerusi satu kenyataan semalam.

Karim yang juga Menteri Muda Pembangunan Belia berkata dalam kenyataan sebelum ini beliau cuma mempersoalkan mengapa PBB tidak disertakan dalam istilah ‘gabungan minda’.

Gabungan itu cuma membabitkan PRS, SUPP dan SPDP, sedangkan PBB juga merupakan sebuah parti komponen BN.

Karim amused over comments by aspiring 'young politician' Bakat

July 4, 2014

"Does this young politician know that PBB has the most Dayak YBs and leaders?"

KUCHING: PRS Youth exco member Cr Bakat Gira has been advised to get his facts right rather than jumping into conclusion and veering into unrelated topics when making his statement.

Bakat’s comment that PRS Youth was concerned that the newly formed party Teras would further split the Dayak community and erode their support for BN in the next state election has made PBB Supreme Council member Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah rather amused.

“Though I don’t wish to have a debate over a trivial issue, I can’t help but be amused over comments made by some aspiring ‘young politicians’ who don’t seem to understand what I have queried in my earlier statement the past few days,” he said in a statement yesterday.

Abdul Karim, who is Asajaya assemblyman, pointed out that he had only queried on why PBB was not invited to the ‘merger of minds’.

“Never did I mention about Teras as I feel that the matter is best discussed and resolved within the state BN and federal family, which is totally not within my purview to question.

“I also never mentioned about Teras formation and its after-effect of splitting the Dayak community,” he reiterated.

However, Abdul Karim, who is also Assistant Minister of Housing, said he was equally as concerned as Bakat with Dayak unity.

Karim not convinced by Masing's clarification on 'merger of minds'

July 2, 2014

KUCHING: PBB Supreme Council member Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah is surprised that PRS, SUPP and SPDP are jittery over state seats at this point in time.

With the state election still far off, he was baffled that the three BN component parties had continuously made a ruckus through the press to express their dissatisfaction.

“Why are they (PRS, SPDP and SUPP) all jittery about seats at this moment of time. The state election is still very far away and the State Legislative Assembly (DUN) is not even dissolved yet.

“Why the furore about seats at this time and why was PBB not invited or being approached even if it’s to discuss (about) seats?” he argued.

He was responding to a statement by PRS president Tan Sri Datuk Amar Dr James Masing that the ‘merger of minds’ among SUPP, SPDP and PRS was still relevant even though Pelagus assemblyman George Lagong had been offloaded from the Teras bandwagon.

Abdul Karim, who is also Assistant Minister of Housing, said: “If the merger is aimed to strengthen BN, why was PBB not in the picture? Doesn’t it look stronger if PBB is included together (in the merger of minds)?”

The Assistant Minister of Youth Development and Asajaya assemblyman remained unconvinced even though SPDP and PRS youth wings had explained that the reason why PBB was not invited was because the party was not affected in terms of seat allocations.

    

Nama kebuah parti PBB enda disengkaum sida

July 2, 2014

KUCHING: Kaban Kunsil Besai Parti PBB Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah madah, iya alit ati ke penemu PRS, SUPP enggau SPDP ke berebutka kerusi maya diatu.

Pengawa bepilih besai nengeri (PRN) agi jauh ari diatu, iya madahka diri alit ati meda tiga komponen BN nya majak madahka penemu sida ke enda lantang ati nengah media.

“Nama kebuah (PRS, SUPP enggau SPDP) rindu ngaga penyarut pasal kerusi jam diatu? Pengawa Bepilih Besai Nengeri agi jauh endar sereta Kunsil Nengeri (DUN) kitai bedau diketu.

“Nama kebuah bekelikuh pasal kerusi maya diatu, lalu nama kebuah parti PBB enda dibai, lapa enda nanya penemu ari kami dulu nyangka tau bejuraika kerusi nya,” tanya Karim.

Iya nanya munyi nya lebuh nimbal jaku presiden PRS Tan Sri Datuk Amar Dr James Jemut Masing ti madahka ‘merger of minds’ entara SUPP, SPDP enggau PRS agi relevan taja pan Kaban Kunsil Nengeri (ADUN) Pelagus, George Lagong enda disengkaum dalam Teras.

Abdul Karim ti mega Menteri Muda Pengawa Berumah madah: ”Enti gempung runding nya kena negapka BN, nama kebuah PBB nadai disebut? Enda ke tegap agi enti PBB disengkaum sekali (dalam gempung runding tauka ‘merger of minds’)?”

Taja pan udah diterangka sekeda orang ba penemu ‘merger of minds’, Kaban Kunsil Nengrei Asajaya nya tetap enda lantang ati lalu madahka iya semina beratika saut sayap nembiak SPDP enggau PRS ke madahka kebuah PBB enda dikangau ‘ngempung runding’ nya laban ku sida iya kerusi parti (PBB) nya enda dikachau.

Karim tells Tian Chua to settle fist- and chair- fighters issue in PKR before poking his nose into State BN's affairs

June 27, 2014

"Like the Malay saying ‘jaga tepi kain sendiri’ which roughly means look after your own house and problems. That is what I want to say to Tian Chua." Tuan Haji Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah 

SIBU: State BN secretary-general Datuk Dr Stephen Rundi yesterday refuted Batu MP Tian Chua’s claim that the poser over Teras is a sign of BN breaking apart, saying the issue would be resolved amicably.

Dr Rundi, who is Assistant Minister of Public Utilities (Electricity and Telecommunications), expressed confidence that Chief Minister Tan Sri Datuk Amar Adenan Satem would work out the solution, the BN Sarawak’s way.

He was reacting to Tian Chua’s claim that the tussle between the ‘merger of minds’ group comprising BN component parties PRS, SUPP and SPDP and BN-friendly Teras was the first sign that BN was disintegrating and losing its direction.

Karim puzzles why PBB not invited to the PRS-SUPP-SPDP's 'merger of minds'

June 24, 2014

KUCHING: Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) Supreme Council member Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah is puzzled by the omission of PBB in the “merger of the minds” announced by presidents of Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS), Sarawak United People’s Party (SUPP) and Sarawak Progressive Democratic Party (SPDP).

“My only puzzle is why PBB was not invited to be together in this merger (of the mind). Maybe some leaders do not see PBB as relevant anymore and do not fit into their so called merger (of the mind).

“I am unsure of what this ‘merger of minds’ as announced by the three BN component leaders are. They would be in better position to answer what is this merger of mind,” he said in statement to The Borneo Post yesterday.

Karim was referring to the meeting among Tan Sri Peter Chin (SUPP president), Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing (SPDP interim president) and Masing (PRS president) during a closing of the Gawai Dayak celebration at Masing’s residence, here on Saturday evening.

They announced at a joint press conference that they had teamed up in defending their seats allocation in the BN from being taken over by new party Parti Tenaga Rakyat Sarawak (Teras) after 10 elected representatives from SUPP, SPDP and Sarawak Workers Party (SWP) quit their parties to join Teras on May 15.

On May 16, the 10 elected representatives met state BN chairman and Chief Minister Tan Sri Datuk Amar Adenan Satem to pledge their allegiance to the BN despite having left their BN component parties.

Last Saturday Masing said PRS was allocated by the BN nine state seats while SUPP (19) and SPDP (8) which means the three parties would be contesting in 36 seats in the next state election.

Karim - The return of G4 will strengthen SPDP

March 22, 2014

“The return of the four Aduns (state assemblymen) would definitely strengthen SPDP.” -Tuan Haji Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah 

KUCHING: The reinstatement of the four former leaders of Sarawak Progressive Democratic Party (SPDP) into the party, who together with former Mas Gading MP Dr Tiki Lafe were sacked by the party, has been hailed by the state’s political leaders as a good move.

Datuk Peter Nansian (Tasik Biru assemblyman), Datuk Sylvester Enrri (Marudi), Rosey Yunus (Bekenu) and Paulus Palu Gumbang (Batu Danau), who were sacked from the party for gross insubordination and dubbed ‘G4’, received their reinstatement certificates on Wednesday.

Before they were sacked, Nansian was senior vice president, Entri and Rosey were vice presidents and Paulus was information chief.

State Barisan Nasional (BN) youth chief Datuk Fadillah Yusof said the reinstatement of the four elected representatives into the party was a good move that would strengthen SPDP and BN as a whole.

“The (reinstatement) is good for both SPDP and BN,” Fadillah, who is also Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) youth chief and Works Minister, said in his text message when contacted.

PBB supreme council member Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah pointed out that it was good to see all was well in SPDP.

“The return of the four Aduns (state assemblymen) would definitely strengthen SPDP,” the Asajaya assemblyman, who is former chief political secretary to the chief minister, wrote in his text message when contacted.