Ministry to consider Sibu-Singapore direct flight

August 05, 2019

Abdul Karim holds a saxophone during a photo-call with Hii (left), Sibu Rural District Council deputy chairman Robert Lau (right), Gracie (fourth right) and others.

SIBU: The highly-requested Sibu-Singapore direct flight will be given due consideration, says Tourism, Arts, Culture, Youth and Sports Minister Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah.

He points out that with the Sarawak Trade and Tourism Office now open in Singapore, the time is right to consider the request.

“It is probably a good time to consider (the request) but then, we will need a lot of discussions on this,” he told reporters after the Kuching Waterfront Jazz Festival (KWJF) showcase at a hotel here on Saturday night.

SCV upgrading, renovation completed, all set for RWMF

July 11, 2019

Abdul Hadi (right) shares some points with Minister of Tourism, Arts, Culture, Youth and Sports Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah and others during the minister’s recent walkabout at SCV.

KUCHING: The upgrading and renovation works at Sarawak Cultural Village (SCV) in Damai have been completed ahead of schedule in time for this year’s Rainforest World Music Festival (RWMF) on July 12 to 14.

Sarawak Economic Development Corporation (SEDC) group general manager Abdul Hadi Abdul Kadir said the works were started last month, and most of them have been completed ahead of schedule.

“We have also included improvement works to cover the Internet connectivity and wider coverage for the nearby Damai Central, which will provide convenience for those who will be patronising the three-day festival,” he said.

16th edition of harvest, folklore fest to be held at SCV

April 18, 2019

Abdul Karim (centre) gives the thumbs up alongside Jane (second right), Hii (third left), Edwin (third right) and other guests as they unveil the buntings for SHFF.

KUCHING: The Sarawak Harvest & Folklore Festival 2019 (SHFF) is back with its 16th edition and will be held at the Sarawak Cultural Village (SCV) in Santubong from April 26-28.

Tourism, Arts, Culture, Youth and Sports Minister Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah said this year’s event is expected to attract a bigger crowd in view of the promotion undertaken by Sarawak Economic Development Corporation (SEDC) and SCV since last year.

“The staging of this four-day festival is also timely because we are expecting a lot of local and foreign tourists who are coming to Kuching for a number of events including the Asean International Film Festival and Awards (Aiffa) 2019 which is on from April 25-27.

Govt may provide wifi at SCV for festival-goers

July 15, 2018

Abdul Karim (second left) gestures during the press conference.

KUCHING: Minister of Tourism, Arts, Culture, Youth and Sports Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah plans to look into providing wifi at Sarawak Cultural Village (SCV) for the Rainforest World Music Festival goers.

“Since such programmes receive many guests especially foreigners, we need good connectivity for wifi to be there.

“That is the feedback we get from festival goers,” he told a press conference held at SCV yesterday.

KWJF to be staged annually — Abdul Karim

September 14, 2017

Abdul Karim (centre) receives the KWJF t-shirt from Soedirman witnessed by Mok (right), Gracie (left) and Edwin (second left).

KUCHING: The Kuching Waterfront Jazz Festival (KWJF) is set to become an annual event in the state starting this year.

This was revealed by Tourism, Arts, Culture, Youth and Sports Minister Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah who pointed out that Sarawak will now boast two jazz music festivals in a year, in Miri (Jazz Borneo) and Kuching.

“We have the Jazz Borneo festival which is held in May in Miri and now the KWJF in Kuching.

PBB Asajaya election machinery ‘well-oiled’ for polls — Abdul Karim

February 24, 2016

Abdul Karim being surrounded by reporters after the handover at SMK Hajah Laila Taib. On his right is Rubiah.

ASAJAYA: The Barisan Nasional (BN) election machinery in Asajaya will not be sitting on their laurels, despite not knowing who the party will face in the upcoming state election.

According to Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) supreme council member Assistant Minister of Youth Development Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah, those involved in the election machinery have been attending various courses and briefings to prepare them for the polls.

“All those from Asajaya PBB branch, including members from the Women and Youth wings, are now already on the ground,” he said after witnessing the handover of the 1Azam Niaga assistance programme at SMK Hajah Laila Taib yesterday.

On the event, Abdul Karim — who is Asajaya assemblyman — the aid programme for entrepreneurs in Asajaya was spearheaded by Sarawak Economic Development Corporation (SEDC), which he also commended for its strict vetting procedures.

“This is vital to ensure that each of the recipients, who are also enrolled under the e-Kasih system, are genuine entrepreneurs who have a true vision of expanding and improving their business,” he pointed out.

On another note, Karim who is also Assistant Minister of Housing, said the request for Asajaya to have its own Fire and Rescue Department station was still awaiting approval from the top authorities. He cited lack of financial resources and the location of the existing station in Muara Tuang as among the reasons for the delay of the project’s nod.

“For the department to build a new station, they (authorities) must consider the distance and the area’s population away from the current station in Muara Tuang.”

Karim supports Adenan’s stand on UEC, English

November 6, 2015

SIBU: Assistant Minister of Youth Development Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah fully supports Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Adenan Satem’s strong stand on Unified Examination Certificate (UEC) and English as a medium of instruction.

Abdul Karim, who is Asajaya assemblyman, said the UEC issues had been lingering for too long and it was puzzling why the Education Ministry continued to withhold recognition of the certificate when it was recognised worldwide.

“There’s a high possibility that it’s not recognised because the parties lobbying for its recognition then are opposition leaning and Chinese based parties in BN are equally to be blamed for not being outspoken enough.

“As what has been correctly mentioned by the Chief Minister, the non-recognition by the government will lead to those having this certificate “moving” out of Malaysia and creating “brain drain” which eventually will be a loss to the country,” Abdul Karim told The Borneo Post yesterday.

Adenan had said he could not understand why the federal government refused to recognise UEC when private universities in many countries recognised this certificate by students from Chinese Independent Schools.

Adenan said this at Sarawak Economic Development Corporation (SEDC)’s Integrity Day 2015 in Kuching on Wednesday.

On the English Language, he said it was an international language of science and technology, literature, and communications.