Abdul Karim: S’wakians will reject non local-based parties

September 4, 2018

KUCHING: Sarawakians want only Sarawak-based parties and Sarawakian leaders to lead and manage Sarawak, says state Tourism, Arts, Culture, Youth and Sports Minister Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah.

The Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) vice-president said he has trust and faith in Sarawakian voters to continue supporting the local coalition, Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) as they do not like to be pushed around and be given empty promises.

“The forthcoming state election will be the same…I have my trust and faith in Sarawakian voters who do not like to be pushed around and be given empty promises, especially on the return of state’s rights and (autonomy over) our oil and gas.

PKR leaders barred from entering the state not because they are PKR leaders

March 27, 2014

KUCHING: The state government does not simply bar political leaders from entering the state because of political affiliation.

However, those the state felt as undesirable and had the tendency to create disharmony among the races would be barred, said a PBB supreme council member Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah.

The Assistant Minister of Youth Development added that the state need not provide any reason to invoke its immigration power under the 18-point agreement signed when Malaysia was formed.

“Preserving racial harmony is not easy. We do not want this harmony that we have built up for umpteen years be destroyed by personalities from Peninsular Malaysia who will just leave us in disarray after they have created havoc,” Abdul Karim who is also Asajaya assemblyman told The Borneo Post when contacted on Tuesday.

He was commenting on three PKR MPs namely vice-president Chua Tian Chang or better known as Tian Chua, strategic director Rafizi Ramli and secretary-general Datuk Saifuddin Nasution Ismail who were barred from entering the state that day.

They were asked to return to Kuala Lumpur while travel companion and Pakatan Rakyat’s de-facto leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim was granted permission to enter the state.

Both Tian Chua and Rafizi tweeted about the incident. Tian Chua who is Batu MP tweeted: “Flight with @AnwarIbrahim and @rafiziramli to Sibu; Rafizi & I were told (we were) not allowed to enter Sarawak.”

Pakatan’s latest proposal yet another empty promise — Karim

July 31, 2012

KUCHING: Pakatan Rakyat’s proposal to remove excise duties imposed on vehicles in order to slash its prices was concocted just to ‘demonise’ the Barisan Nasional (BN) government.

Asajaya assemblyman Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah said yesterday that Pakatan were experts in making promises, but none of it had ever materialised.

“Pakatan has raised issues such as abolishing PTPTN loan and that varsity education should be free. They also promised a 20 per cent oil royalty to Sabah and Sarawak if they were to take over the federal government.

“They also promised a Dayak chief minister for the state and a deputy prime minister post from both East Malaysian states. They even promise that the country will become a welfare state.

“They promise pay increase, they promise, promise, promise! Of course, all laymen would love these promises. But my question is what happened to those promises made before the 12th general election?

“To date, their promises have not been fulfilled,” said Abdul Karim, who is also assistant minister of youth development, when contacted by The Borneo Post yesterday.

He was asked to comment on PKR strategic director Rafizi Ramli’s recent statement that Pakatan would abolish excise duty on cars as part of its election promises. Recently, Pakatan had also promised to abolish PTPTN loans as well.

‘PR’s stand on auto policy just a ploy to win election’

July 27, 2012

KUCHING: Lawmakers from state Barisan Nasional (BN) see the latest announcement by Pakatan Rakyat (PR) that it will completely revamp the National Automotive Policy (NAP) should it win Putrajaya in the coming general election as just another of their tactics to hoodwink the people.

On Tuesday, PKR chief strategist Rafizi Ramli told a press conference that the NAP revamp would include slashing hefty excise duties and reducing the triple-tax burden imposed on cars in the country.

Asajaya assemblyman Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah called such tactic as ‘dangling a carrot’ to deceive Malaysians who generally love cars.

The Assistant Minister of Youth Development and PBB supreme council member also said it was usual for the opposition to promise ‘the sky’ before every election just to win voters over.

The strategy, he said, was nothing new and was used by the opposition during the 2008 general election.

“After the election, they get evasive when confronted on their promises or put the blame on the federal government or BN state government in power.

“Now, election is coming again and the same cycle of empty promises is coming again from PR. Even in states controlled by PR like Penang, Selangor, almost all their promises then have not been fulfilled,” he said.

‘More expected to abandon PKR because of election’

June 27, 2012

SIBU: More disillusioned PKR members are expected to follow the example of PKR Lingga chairman Aladin Sebli and 64 members who quit the party on Monday to join PBB as the 13th general election (GE) draws near.

Asajaya assemblyman Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah said yesterday he would not be surprised if more leave the party after they realised they had been holding on to empty promises.

“I am not surprised that PKR members are leaving the party in droves! Those who were initially attracted to the promises, dreams and ‘carrot’ dangled by PKR are beginning to realise that all these promises were merely ‘empty tins’.

“I won’t be surprised that many more will leave that party as the GE gets near,” Karim, who is Assistant Minister of Youth Development told The Borneo Post via sms.

According to the media report, Aladin and the 64 PKR members handed over their membership application forms to PBB assemblywoman Simoi Peri during a ‘Leaders with the People’ event at Kampung Hulu in Sri Aman.

Aladin told a press conference that their decision to quit was voluntary as they realised that only BN could bring about development for the people.

Aladin was further quoted to have said PKR could not bring about development, calling on other PKR members to follow their example to ensure BN’s victory in the coming election.