We’re youths till 40, says Karim

July 03, 2019

Saberkas No. 2 disagrees with proposed amendment Bill to lower age of youth to 30

KUCHING: Sarawak’s definition of ‘youth’ will maintain the age range of 15 to 40 years old, says Sarawak United National Youth Organisation (Saberkas) deputy president Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah.

Commenting on the proposed amendment Bill tabled in Parliament on Monday to lower the age to define ‘youths’ from 40 to 30, he told The Borneo Post yesterday that the country should not lower the age limit to mirror that of western countries.

“Personally, I am not agreeable to the proposed amendment to lower the age of ‘youths’ to 30 and below, from the present maximum age of 40.

SUPP can leave GPS if it is not the right platform for their struggle

August 16, 2018

KUCHING: Sarawak United People’s Party (SUPP) has been told to be patient and pursue its struggles under Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS).

The advice came from Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) vice president Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah.

“Show that you can win over the urban seats and your present state seats instead of ‘venturing’ too far with your ten pointers,” said the Minister of Tourism, Arts, Culture, Youth and Sports when commenting on SUPP’s 10-point understanding it adopted during its Annual Delegates Conference (ADC) on Sunday.

The 10-point understanding adopted by SUPP is just an internal understanding within SUPP and was never raised by SUPP with its partners in GPS when they decided to form the coalition of state-based parties.

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.

Unethical practice in sports not tolerated – Abd Karim

February 16, 2018

KUCHING: Any unethical practice in sports such as match fixing will not be tolerated.

Minister of Tourism, Arts, Culture, Youth and Sports Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah, who said this, hoped the full force of the law will be meted against those found guilty of match fixing.

He said this today as he expressed disappointment over the two state football players were remanded for six days from today to facilitate probe into alleged match-fixing last Saturday.

‘Close ranks to recapture Sibu, Lanang’

December 2, 2017

SIBU: State Barisan Nasional leaders are echoing the Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg’s recent statement that there is a fighting chance for BN to wrest two opposition strongholds - Sibu and Lanang - this parliamentary election if Sarawak United People’s Party (SUPP) and United People’s Party (UPP) could close ranks and work out an amicable solution to their apparent division before the 14th General Election (GE14).

The Minister of Tourism, Arts, Culture, Youth and Sport Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah told TheBorneoPost that in order to win any seat or win any election, the party contesting must be able to maintain and secure unity of its members and supporters.

“I fully agree that to win Sibu and Lanang, BN parties SUPP, PBB, PRS and PDP as well as parties linked to BN like UPP in those seats must be able to unite their members and supporters and make sure they support the BN’s candidates.”

Ketepi isu peribadi demi kaum Cina

July 10, 2016

SUPP, UPP perlu bersama semula sama ada bekerjasama atau bergabung

KUCHING: Pemimpin Parti Rakyat Bersatu Sarawak (SUPP) dan Parti Rak-yat Bersatu (UPP) harus mengetepikan isu peribadi sebaliknya fokus sudut pandangan lebih besar demi masyarakat Cina negeri ini.

Menteri Muda Perumahan Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah berkata, kedua-dua parti itu perlu bersama semula sama ada bekerjasama dengan baik atau bergabung.

Katanya lagi, kedua-dua pihak tidak harus terus mengkritik satu sama lain menerusi media sebaliknya menyelesai perbezaan antara mereka menerusi saluran sewajarnya iaitu secara bersemuka.

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.

PBB members are angry -Karim

April 19, 2016

KUCHING: PBB Supreme Council member Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah said SUPP leaders should know the implications for making silly comments.

“Their leaders, whether they are rookies or veterans, must be able to differentiate what are diamonds and what are just glasses.

“I can’t speak on behalf of our Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Adenan Satem, but I can say PBB members are angry. I dare say anyone in the chief minister’s position would be very angry.”

Karim said Milton should know the implications as he would be contesting and needed Bumiputera and PBB support.

“Even in the last state and parliamentary election, support from the Chinese community for SUPP was just a mere 20 per cent. The bulk of support came from the Bumiputeras, whose support ranged from 60 to 80 per cent,” he said when contacted yesterday.

Karim stressed he was not racist, but SUPP must strive to win back support from the community and not offend those who had all along supported them.

“Milton is not a team player. If he can’t fit in with the BN concept and ideology, just politely withdraw and don’t be a menace and acting like a hero.

Foo is not a team player -Karim

April 18, 2016

Milton Foo "not a team player" for openly criticising Chief Minister Adenan Satem over selection of candidates for Sarawak election.

PETALING JAYA: Two PBB leaders have taken their fellow Barisan Nasional member, Milton Foo of SUPP, to task for lashing out at Sarawak Chief Minister Adenan Satem over his selection of candidates in the upcoming sate election.

The two are PBB Supreme Council members Abdul Karim Hamzah and Abdullah Saidol.

Karim said Foo was a political novice who did not deserve to be a BN candidate as he did not know how to be a team player. 

“His (Foo’s) allegations and comments are very serious, provocative, and could affect the good relationship between SUPP and other BN coalition partners, especially PBB,” Borneo Post Online reported him as saying.

Karim said PBB members were angry and called on Foo, BN’s pending candidate, to apologise to Adenan.

Abdullah, meanwhile, said Foo’s questioning of Adenan’s credibility and sincerity as state BN chairman was truly shocking.

He said he was unsure if Foo had secured the “blessings” of his SUPP superiors before making such naive remarks as all state BN members had many opportunities to convey any disagreement or differing view with Adenan.

Brickbats from PBB leaders for Milton Foo

April 18, 2016

KUCHING: BN-SUPP Pending candidate Milton Foo’s outburst over Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Adenan Satem’s decision on BN direct candidates has earned himself brickbats from two PBB leaders.

PBB Supreme Council member Datuk Abdul Karim Hamzah in responding to the allegation, said such statement by a “political novice” who had been announced as a BN candidate was just unfortunate.

“Personally, to me, he doesn’t deserve to be a BN flag bearer and candidate if he does not know how to be a team player. His allegations and comments are very serious, provocative, and could affect the good relationship between SUPP and other BN coalition partners, especially PBB.

“To say that PBB members are not angry is an understatement. We are! He should apologise to our CM for this uncalled for remark,” Abdul Karim, who is BN-PBB candidate for Asajaya, said in a statement yesterday.

Another PBB Supreme Council member Abdullah Saidol said Foo’s open comment in questioning Adenan’s credibility and sincerity as state BN chairman were truly shocking and deemed politically inappropriate and rude.

“Not sure whether he had secured ‘blessing’ from his superior in SUPP before making such statement. If not, then he should consult his party leaders first before making such naive remarks which shows his ignorance.”

Abdullah, who is BN-PBB candidate for Semop remarked that Foo’s choice of word in his statement was directly undermining Adenan’s leadership, such that he (Abdullah) could not help but to describe Foo’s attitude as ‘kurang ajar’ (no manners), self-centred and discourteous.

‘Focus on winning election, not over seat allocation’

April 15, 2016

SIBU: SUPP should focus on winning the election and not cry over seats not allocated to them, says former Assistant Minister of Social Development (Youth) Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah.

“Face the election knowing who our common enemy is instead of bragging like a lost child. Let the chief minister as the state BN head decide who should contest in which seat,” Abdul Karim, who is PBB Supreme Council member, said yesterday.

The BN Asajaya candidate was responding to SUPP president Senator Datuk Dr Sim Kui Hian’s statement that he was disappointed with the nomination of direct BN candidates in several constituencies that were traditionally theirs.

Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Adenan Satem announced six direct BN candidates in Kuching on Wednesday – Dato Sri Wong Soon Koh (Bawang Assan), Datuk Dr Jerip Susil (Mambong), Datuk Tiong Thai King (Dudong), Ranum Mina (Opar), Dr Johnical Rayong (Engkilili) and Dato Hii King Chiong (Pujut).

Dr Sim was reported to have said while they did not agree with the concept of direct BN candidates they had been overruled by the chief minister.

He added that they were disappointed with the allocation of SUPP seats to direct BN candidates, especially in Pujut, where the CM had changed his mind. Dr Sim, however, said they took cognizance of the fact that it was his (Adenan) prerogative.

On this, Abdul Karim said: “He (Adenan) is a reasonable man and makes his decision on the final candidacy based on various feedbacks on the ground and the winnability of those candidates.

Stop whining and focus on elections, PBB tells SUPP

April 15, 2016

Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah of PBB says CM Adenan Satem makes candidacy decisions based on feedback from the ground about the winnability of candidates.

PETALING JAYA: The Sarawak United People’s Party (SUPP) has been told to stop whining over seat allocations and focus on winning the state election instead.

In a statement, Supreme Council member of Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB), Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah said it was “most regrettable” to see SUPP grumbling over seat allocations with the election just around the corner, more so when fingers were pointed at Chief Minister Adenan Satem.

Karim said Adenan, as the state Barisan Nasional chief should be allowed to decide on who should contest and where they should contest at.

The Assistant Minister of Housing also said Adenan was a reasonable man and based his candidacy decisions on feedback from the ground on the winnability of the candidates.

“Seats that were lost in the last elections should be ‘opened’ to the most winnable candidate from any BN Party or any direct BN candidate.”

He added that those who lost in the last election had already been given the opportunity and if they could not deliver, others who could, should be given a chance instead.

Karim said SUPP’s recent remarks on the seat allocations were unkind and uncalled for, at a time when solidarity was needed.

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.

BN diyakini terus tadbir Sarawak

January 28, 2016

Malah dapat meningkatkan undi popular cecah 60 peratus

Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah (dua dari kiri), Dr. Jeneri Amir (tiga dari kiri), Dr. Shamrahayu Ab. Aziz (dua dari kanan), Dr. Neilson Ilan Mersat (kanan) dan Zaini Hassan ketika menjayakan Program Advokasi Ilmuwan Majlis Profesor Negara bersama Utusan Malaysia dan Radio Televisyen Malaysia (RTM) di Universiti Malaysia Sarawak, Kuching, semalam. utusan/MOHAMAD GUSTIE NOORAMBIA

Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah
dan Dr. Jeniri Amir mendengar soalan
yang diajukan oleh Datuk Zaini
Hassan. -@ybkarimsays

KOTA SAMARAHAN 27 Jan. - Barisan Nasional (BN) diyakini dapat mengekalkan kemenangan pada Pilihan Raya Negeri Ke-11 (PRN-11) berdasarkan populariti Ketua Menteri, Tan Sri Adenan Satem.

Penganalisis politik, Prof. Madya Dr. Jeniri Amir berkata, parti itu juga dipercayai dapat meningkatkan undi popular mencecah 60 peratus berbanding 55 peratus pada pilihan raya negeri sebelum ini.

Beliau yang juga Pensyarah Kanan Fakulti Sains Sosial Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (Unimas) berkata, dalam tempoh lima tahun selepas memenangi pilihan raya kali ini, Adenan bagaimanapun perlu pantas dan bersuara lebih nyaring untuk menterjemahkan idea serta melaksanakan mandat yang diberikan.

Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman
Hamzah mendengar soalan
dengan sepenuh perhatian.
-@ybkarimsays

“Rakyat Sarawak mengidamkan pembangunan luar bandar sama maju dengan bandar, semua etnik menikmati kemajuan, negeri ini dapat berdiri sama tinggi dengan Semenanjung.

“Hanya melalui pembangunan rancak dan peluang ekonomi yang luas dapat terus mengekalkan BN di Sarawak,” ujarnya.

Beliau berkata demikian ketika menjadi salah seorang ahli panel dalam Program Advokasi Ilmuwan Majlis Profesor Negara (MPN) Bersama Utusan Malaysia dan Radio Te­levisyen Malaysia (RTM) yang membincangkan forum bertajuk Sudah Sejahterakah Rakyat Sarawak? di Panggung Eksperimen, Fakulti Sains Gunaan dan Kreatif, Unimas di sini hari ini.

Selain Jeniri, program itu turut menampilkan ahli panel terdiri daripada Menteri Muda Pembangunan Belia (Bandar) Sarawak, Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah; Dekan Fakulti Sains Sosial Unimas, Prof. Madya Dr. Neilson Illan Mersat dan pakar perlembagaan dari Universiti Islam Malaysia (UIA) mewakili MPN, Prof. Madya Dr. Shamrahayu Ab. Aziz, manakala Penolong Ketua Pengarang 1 Kumpulan Utusan, Datuk Zaini Hassan bertindak sebagai moderator.

‘Better for BN if Chinese united under one party’

January 3, 2016

SIBU: There is a higher chance for Barisan Nasional (BN) to wrest back the urban seats in the next state election if the Chinese remained united under one party.

Assistant Minister of Public Utilities (Electricity and Telecommunications) Datuk Dr Stephen Rundi, who is state BN secretary-general, was asked if the coming polls would see urban seats returning to BN as well as the swing of support from the Chinese community to the coalition, given the soaring popularity of Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Adenan Satem.

“There is swing to BN, definitely but if the Chinese are united under one party, the chances of winning would be better,” Dr Rundi, who is Kemena assemblyman, told thesundaypost.

In the 2011 state election, BN won 55 of 71 seats.

PBB secured all 35 seats it contested in, while SUPP only managed six out of 19; PRS eight out of nine; and SPDP six out of eight. Assistant Minister of Youth Development Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah, who is Asajaya assemblyman, personally hoped to see the urban seats returning to BN in the next state election.

He said urban seats to be contested by PBB such as Satok, Nangka and Jepak would definitely be going to BN but those eyed by SUPP, or maybe united People’s Party (UPP) would present a tough fight for the candidates.

“We do hope that the soaring popularity, openness and transparency of the chief minister in his short stint so far, he could bring more urban voters to lean towards BN.

No place in S’wak for Opposition of ‘noise-makers’

January 3, 2016

The Barisan Nasional (BN) is not saying that Sarawak does not need an Opposition which can act as a check-and-balance but it’s against one which “simply makes noise”.

KUALA LUMPUR: The Barisan Nasional (BN) Sarawak has taken the position that the state does not need an Opposition which “simply makes noise”. “We are not saying that Sarawak does not need an Opposition which can act as a check-and-balance,” said Nangka Assemblyman Annuar Rapaee. “What we are saying is that we don’t need an Opposition which simply makes noise.”

Annuar along with Assistant Minister of Youth Development Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah and Assistant Minister of Public Utilities Stephen Rundi were expressing the hope in the local media that the urban seats would return to the ruling coalition but acknowledged that the Chinese, in that case, would have to unite under one political party in the ruling Barisan Nasional (BN) Sarawak.

“There’s a better chance of BN taking back the urban seats if the Chinese were united under one political party,” said Stephen who is also BN Sarawak Secretary-General.

He noted that Chinese “had begun swinging back to BN given Chief Minister Adenan Satem’s popularity” but thinks the trend wasn’t pronounced enough. “The Chinese must unite under one political party in the BN for the coalition to win back the urban seats.”

Abdul Karim, who is also Asajaya Assemblyman and a PPB Supreme Council member, expects his party to retain its urban seats such as Satok, Nangka and Jepak but concedes the ostensibly multiracial but Chinese-led and dominated Sarawak United People’s Party (Supp) will have a tough fight in other urban seats against the DAP. “We hope that Adenan, given his popularity, because of his emphasis on openness and transparency, can play a big role in wooing back urban voters.”

“The Chief Minister is a leader for all communities. It’s not often that we get a leader like this.”

In 2011, the last state election, BN won 55 of the 71 seats contested. The number of seats has since increased by 11 to 82.

Lo wishing for a united Chinese, says Abdul Karim

July 20, 2015

Abdul Karim (eighth left) and wife Datin Zuraini Abdul Jabbar (seventh left) with the Chinese and Malay community leaders on their visit during Hari Raya Aidilfitri open house yesterday.

KUCHING: PBB Supreme Council member Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah is hopeful that SUPP leaders will take UPP secretary-general George Lo’s statement “with an open heart”.

Lo, who is also UPP Batu Lintang branch chairman, during a visit to Tourism Minister Datuk Amar Abang Johari Tun Openg’s Hari Raya Aidilfitri open house on Friday, was quoted as saying that UPP is willing to compromise if SUPP agrees to do so as well.

He said this was necessary for the sake of unity in the Chinese community.

Abdul Karim, who is Asajaya assemblyman, when met at his Hari Raya Aidilfitri open house yesterday, said SUPP leaders should not look at Lo’s statement as arrogance but deem it as a good intention of wishing to see the Chinese community united.

“No doubt, to SUPP, when a party, which is not yet legally within BN family is calling out to them and telling them ‘if SUPP is willing to compromise, we (UPP) are willing to compromise’, some of them definitely take that as an insult.

“But I hope what the UPP secretary-general had mentioned can be taken with an open heart. Don’t look at it as being arrogant but rather as a good intention coming from him wanting to see the Chinese community united,” Abdul Karim told The Borneo Post.

He said even though he is from a different ethnic group and party, he would relish to see the Chinese community united under one umbrella.

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.

Galeri: Chinese New Year Visit

First Day

SUPP Open House at the SUPP headquarters in Kuching

At the residence of Australian Business Council Chairman Roger Chan in Kuching

Kehadiran pada TDC hanya hormati UPP

January 14, 2015

KUCHING: Kehadiran Timbalan Presiden Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) Datuk Amar Abang Johari Tun Abang Openg pada Persidangan Delegasi Tiga Tahun Sekali (TDC) Pertama Parti Rakyat Bersatu (UPP) sebagai menghormati parti itu, yang mempunyai ideologi politik sama dengan Barisan Nasional (BN).

Ahli Majlis Tertinggi PBB Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah berkata sehubungan itu parti komponen BN lain seharusnya faham dan tidak mempersoalkan perkara berkenaan, yang hanya akan memburukkan lagi situasi politik di negeri ini.

Jelas Menteri Muda Pembangunan Belia (Bandar) itu, sama ada UPP mahupun Parti Rakyat Bersatu Sarawak (SUPP) ia adalah rakan kepada PBB.