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: It is good to see SUPP's two factions sitting together

March 28, 2014

KUCHING: It is good to see that the leaders of the two factions in Sarawak United People’s Party (SUPP) are finally sitting together.

In making this remark, Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) leader Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah said it was a good and positive sign although it was still too early to say that they have reconciled.

“It’s good to see after quite a while the leaders of the two factions are finally sitting together,” he said.

Karim, who is Assistant Youth Development Minister, said this in responding to the meeting between leaders of the groups aligned to Tan Sri Peter Chin and Dato Sri Wong Soon Koh in Mukah on Tuesday.

The meeting which was later followed by handshakes and smiles was initiated by Chief Minister Tan Sri Datuk Amar Adenan Satem in an attempt to patch up the two camps.

“Though it’s still too early to say they have reconciled, their action does give hope that they could mend fences for the sake of SUPP and the Chinese community. No problem is too big to be resolved,” he added.

SUPP, which is one of the oldest parties in the state, faced an internal crisis since its triennial delegates’ conference (TDC) in 2011 and remained unresolved until today.

Galeri: SUPP Open House

February 2, 2014

Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud and Puan Sri Ragad Kurdi Taib together with Tan Sri Peter Chin Fah Kui and other state leaders.

BN members were told to stay united -Karim

February 18, 2006

The state BN members were told by the Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi to stay united and work together for the state's development. -Tuan Haji Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah 

KUCHING -- A closed-door dialogue between Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi and Sarawak Barisan Nasional (BN) leaders during the BN Backbenchers Club Retreat 2006 Saturday focused on the development needs of the state.

Minister of Plantation Industries and Commodities Datuk Peter Chin said the members of the state BN asked for a bigger allocation for Sarawak under the Ninth Malaysia Plan.

"They believe Sarawak needs more funds to catch up with the development in other states," he told reporters after attending the two-hour dialogue at the Holiday Inn Resort Damai Lagoon in Santubong, about 50km from here.

Chin said the dialogue only "touched a bit" on the Sarawak state election which is expected soon.

"We did not deliberate too much on the state election because the matter will be decided by the Chief Minister (Tan Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud)," he added.

Abdullah, who is also the BN Chairman, arrived here this afternoon for the retreat.

The Prime Minister was welcomed at the airport by a crowd of about 7,000 people led by Abdul Taib.