Oxidation ponds unhygienic and dangerous – Abdul Karim

October 9, 2016

Oxidation ponds are strictly out of bound to public as they are unhygienic and dangerous.

SIBU: Oxidation ponds are unhygienic and dangerous thus are strictly out of bound to the public,says Assistant Minister for Housing Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah.

He thus called for concerted efforts to secure such areas from being accessible by members of the public especially children. Abdul Karim, who is also Assistant Minister for Youth and Sports was commenting on the oxidation ponds under Housing Development Corporation (HDC) in Sibu Jaya and types of safety measures taken to keep out the public, following the latest drowning case there last month.

“There are oxidation ponds in some HDC projects throughout Sarawak including Sibu Jaya. They are under the preview of the local councils where these ponds are located.

Galeri: SHDC and DBSB breaking of fast with KDJA

June 19, 2016

Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Amar Abang Johari presenting a donation to KDJA vice president Jacqueline David. Also seen are the Housing Assistant Minister Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah and Public Utilities Assistant Minister (Electric and Communication) Dr Abdul Rahman (fourth left).

HDC to build 241 units of affordable houses

June 14, 2016

KUCHING: The Housing Development Corporation Ltd (HDC) plans to build 241 units of single storey affordable houses in Kuala Baram.

Assistant Minister for Housing Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah said applications for funds have been submitted to the National Housing Department. The plan is to get the project going next year.

He told Dato Sebastian Ting Chiew Yew (BN-Piasau) yesterday that 505 units of low cost houses had been completed in Lambir earlier this year and would be distributed to those eligible soon.

“The selection process for the affordable housing is as follows: applicants must be Malaysians and residents of Sarawak, gross household income (husband and wife) below RM3,000, and married, including widow, widower and single mother.

He said leeway would be given to applicants who are bachelors, aged 30 years and above, and did not have any property.

“The selection of applicants will be offered through the balloting process by the Selection Committee.”

Abdul Karim also said that in 2010, the state government set up the `State Squatter Management and Solving Committee’ and implemented `State Action Plan Management and Squatters Solving’ to address the overall issue of squatters in the state until 2020.

‘Cost, land availability among criteria for low-cost houses’

December 10, 2015

THE COST and availability of land are among the factors the state government had to look into to construct low-cost houses within the city centre.

Assistant Minister of Housing Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah said if the government through its agencies were to acquire lands that are situated within the city, house buyers would have to pay quite a high compensation for their house.

“This would in a way increase the cost of development or construction for these houses which would not be feasible for the government to do and that’s why most of the low-cost houses in the state are placed near to the fringe of the city,” he said when responding to a question by David Wong Kee Woan (DAP-Pelawan) on the distance of low-cost houses under the 11th Malaysia Plan from city centre at the State Legislative Assembly (DUN) yesterday.

Abdul Karim said there was no specific mileage on how far low-cost houses should be built as there were some that were built within the city centre.

“But most of the time, we will try to look for landed property that are within the fringe of the city. That’s why in Kuching, you see a lot of them in Matang, Batu Gong as well as many that are coming up in Demak whereas in Sibu, you can see them in Rantau Panjang and Sibu Jaya.”

On a related question from Yap Hoi Liong (DAP-Dudong) regarding the number of low-cost houses built throughout the state from 2015 to 2017, Abdul Karim said various state and federal agencies had completed the building of 500 units of low-cost houses in Miri this year while a total of 439 low-cost houses and 113 People Friendly Houses (Rumah Mesra Rakyat) in Kuching would be completed next year.

“Under the 11th Malaysia Plan, the Housing Development Corporation (HDC) has proposed to build 8,361 units of low-cost houses in Kuching, 405 units in Sibu, 1,512 units in Bintulu, 1,905 units in Miri, 372 units in Mukah, 500 units in Limbang, 380 units in Kapit and 98 units in Kanowit.

“However, the implementation of these projects is subject to availability of fund approved by the government,” he noted.

He added that for the private sector, the number of low-cost houses to be built in future would depend on the private sector’s application.

“For 2015, the number of approved low-cost houses under the private sector as at November in Kuching is 27 units and Bintulu 45 units. There was no application approved yet for Sibu, Miri, Mukah, Limbang and Kapit.

This prompted Yap to question why no applications were approved for Sibu, which led Abdul Karim to retort that the approval for low-cost housing depended on the demand.

“As it is, if you were to check in Sibu, there are low-cost houses already constructed in Rantau Panjang and Sibu Jaya. I’m not too sure if you’ve got your record right on this, that there’s no approval for Sibu,” he remarked.

“My answer earlier on was that there’s no application for Sibu but there are low-cost houses being constructed in Sibu and I can say that Sibu has got quite a big chunk of low-cost houses that have been approved,” he added.

On what measures the state government would take to safeguard the quality of low-cost houses, Abdul Karim said two mechanisms were used to achieve this.

“The first mechanism is to ensure that at the planning approval stage, low-cost houses fulfil the requirements of the Development Control Standard (DCS) and other planning requirements in terms of sizes of the houses, setbacks, roading, open spaces, amenities and facilities.”

“The second mechanism is at the Building Approval stage where building design and structure are regulated through the Building Ordinance and issuance of Occupation Permit (OP). The issuance of OP will be done once the Qualified Submitting Person (QSP) certifies that the construction and completion are in compliance with the approved plan.”

Flat owners want ‘blasted’ Block E pulled down

April 14, 2015

Notice for evacuation has been put up in front of the damaged building.

SIBU: The Housing Development Corporation (HDC) will wait for the full ‘worthiness’ report on the four-storey Block E flat in Sibu Jaya before deciding whether to assist in repairs or to help rebuild it.

Assistant Housing Minister Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah said this yesterday in response to calls from several owners of the flat to rebuild Block E.

An explosion occurred in one of the units in the wee hours of Saturday, and the impact was so powerful it blew off six walls on the ground and first floors of the flat.

Some owners of the flat hoped HDC would pull down the building and build a new one, instead of repairing the damaged parts.

HDC is the government agency behind the Sibu Jaya Township development.

Owner Catherine Bernard claimed of suffering from emotional and psychological scars, adding that many people would not dare enter the flat if only repairs were made.

Abdul Karim said the house owners were the beneficial owners of the apartment, not HDC.

HDC to check Sibu Jaya apartment safety

April 12, 2015

Firemen look at the deep crack on the ground floor that cut through the flat.

SIBU: Housing Development Corporation (HDC) is now checking the building structure and other units in the Sibu Jaya township apartment following the collapse of some portions of the ground floor unit caused by an explosion.

When contacted yesterday, Assistant Housing Minister Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah said the inspections were to ascertain whether it is safe for dwelling.

“There was a slight collapse of some portion of the ground floor unit of HDC apartment in Sibu Jaya.

“We will let the authorities carry out the investigation.

We are looking into whether the building structure and other units in that building are safe for human habitation.

“If not, we will make arrangement to place the occupants in safe units,” Abdul Karim, who is Asajaya assemblyman told thesundaypost.

The incident was believed to have happened around 2.30am yesterday. Several people were reported to be injured.

Sarawak govt controlling prices of low and low-medium cost houses

November 13, 2014

KUCHING: The Sarawak government has implemented a policy of controlling the prices of low-cost and low-medium cost houses built by private developers.

State Assistant Housing Minister, Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah said the measure was one of five concerted efforts in tackling the issue of rising price of houses so as to enable the low-income and middle-income groups to own a house.

He said the ceiling price of a low-cost house had been fixed at RM50,400 for an intermediate unit and RM59,220 for a corner unit.

621 rumah kos rendah di Saratok

November 12, 2014

KUCHING: Menteri Muda Perumahan Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah memberitahu Dewan Undangan Negeri semalam, sehingga kini kerajaan telah membina 621 rumah kos rendah di Sarawak.

“Kerajaan akan membina 68 unit lagi Rumah Mampu Milik (RMM) di bawah Program Perumahan Rakyat (PPR) pada tahun depan,” jelasnya.

Tambahnya, kementerian juga mengarahkan Perbadanan Perumahan Sarawak (HDC) untuk membuat kajian lanjut tentang permintaan perumahan di kawasan Saratok untuk perancangan perumahan baharu pada masa depan.

Karim berkata demikian ketika menjawab soalan Ali Biju (PKR-Krian) mengenai rancangan kerajaan untuk membina lebih banyak rumah kos rendah di Saratok. 

621 buah rumah ungkus murah udah digaga

November 12, 2014

Kelimpah ari nya perintah BN deka ngaga 68 unit RMM di baruh program PPR di Saratok

KUCHING: Perintah Barisan Nasional (BN) udah ngaga 621 unit Rumah Ungkus Murah di Saratok sereta penyampau nya deka nambah jemah ila.

Menteri Muda Pengawa Berumah Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah madah, opis menteri udah minta piak HDC bejalaika pansik bekaul enggau perambu pemansang pengawa berumah baru jemah ila.

“Naka ke diatu perintah BN udah ngaga 621 unit Rumah Ungkus Murah di Saratok.

“Perintah deka ngaga 68 unit agi Rumah Mampu Milik (RMM) di baruh Program Perumahan Rakyat (PPR) taun baru.

“Opis Menteri udah ngasuh HDC ngaga pansik silik pasal peminta bekaul enggau rumah di kandang menua Saratok, ke perambu pengawa berumah baru jemah ila,” ku iya.

Karim mansutka pekara nya lebuh ti nyaut tanya ari Ali Biju (PKR – Krian) maya sesi saut tanya nyerumba Aum Kunsil Negeri ditu, kemari, pasal perambu pemansang pengawa berumah di kandang menua Saratok.

Kelimpah ari Karim madahka orang ti ulih meli Rumah Ungkus Murah enggau RMM nengah PPR patut peranak Malaysia ti diau di Sarawak, penatai pemisi kasar ruang bilik RM650 ngagai RM3,000, umur 18 ngagai 65 taun enggau kebukai.

Squatters taken to task for declining flat rental offers

October 9, 2014

KUCHING: Squatters in and around the city who turned down flat rental offers only have themselves to blame if they received eviction orders from the authority.

Assistant Housing Minister Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah said the government, through Housing Development Corporation (HDC), had numerous housing projects to resettle those squatting on state and private lands.

One of such projects was RPR Batu Gong Park, along Mile 18 Kuching-Serian Road, but until today only a few of the 500 units available had been occupied.

Abdul Karim, also Asajaya assemblyman, told reporters in Asajaya on Tuesday that the flats were meant for squatters around the city.

“Unfortunately, many of them turned down the offer by giving all kinds of excuses. Since they declined the offer, we now open the flats to those eligible to rent.

500 unit rumah teres di Taman Gong belum diduduki

October 8, 2014

ASAJAYA: Terletak jauh dari pusat bandar menyebabkan sejumlah 500 unit rumah teres di Taman Gong, Kilometer 30 Jalan Kuching-Serian masih belum diduduki.

Menteri Muda Perumahan Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah berkata, taman perumahan di bawah Skim Rancangan Perumahan Rakyat (RPR) itu tidak mempunyai masalah struktur atau sewa tinggi.

Permasalahan yang timbul menurutnya adalah sikap pemohon yang ditawarkan enggan berpindah ke kawasan pinggir bandar menyebabkan rumah-rumah terbabit kosong walaupun telah siap dua tahun lepas.

“Di bawah skim ini (RPR), pemohon dari kawasan setinggan diberi keutamaan untuk mendapatkan rumah.

“Namun setelah ditawarkan, mereka menolak atas alasan kediaman jauh dari tempat kerja,” katanya.

Beliau berkata demikian kepada pemberita selepas pengagihan daging korban kepada 423 orang di sini, semalam.

Menurut Karim, pemohon hanya dikehendaki membayar sewa sebanyak RM150 sebulan.

Galeri: SHDC’s Ngiling Bidai 2014

 June 17, 2014

Datuk Amar Abang Johari Tun Openg joins the ‘Ngirup Ai Pengayu’ toast led by organising chairman Jonathan Lapok Anggat (second right).

TRADISI: Datuk Amar Abang Johari Tun Openg ditemani tetamu kehormat lain menjalankan upacara ‘ngiling tikai’ sebagai simbolik perasmian -Sumber

Galeri: Working visit to China

June 11, 2014

Datuk Amar Abang Johari Tun Openg presents a souvenir to Yin Hailin in the presence of Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah (left) and Datuk Francis Harden Hollis (second left).

Datuk Amar Abang Johari Tun Openg (centre) in a photo call at Xu Qiang’s office. Yu is the president of North China Municipal Engineering Design & Research Institute in Tianjin.

Master plan for Kampung Datu

May 8, 2014

THE state government is in the process of formulating a comprehensive Kampung Datu master plan to transform the area into a modern, well-planned and vibrant housing and urban settlement.

“This master plan would also cover the silviculture area at 11th Mile in Sibu, which is also to cater for extended families,” said Assistant Minister of Housing Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah when replying to a question by Yap Hoi Liong (DAP-Dudong), who wanted to know the government’s plans to help fire victims rebuild their houses in Kampung Datu, Sibu.

“We will be engaging with various stakeholders in particular affected residents on the planning of the whole area before we finalise the master plan, which would also cover the burnt down area and take into consideration the interest and need of fire victims,” he added.

Apart from this initiative, Abdul Karim pointed out that the Ministry of Housing through the Housing Development Corporation (HDC) would develop 33 units of affordable houses at the Kampung Datu Baru site to cater for the housing needs of Kpg Datu residents.

Karim: Govt targets zero squatters in state by 2020

May 8, 2014

KUCHING: Land and Survey Department census shows there are 2,507 household heads in squatter areas on government land in Piasau, Pujut and Senadin constituencies.

Assistant Housing Minister Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah told the august house yesterday in response to Pujut assemblyman Fong Pau Teck’s question on the status of squatters in Miri which totaled about 4,000.

“The record given was based on a comprehensive survey carried out on those squatting on government land only and excluding those on private land,” Karim pointed out.

On plans and measures taken to tackle squatter issues in the state, Karim said the government had implemented various schemes and initiatives in an effort to achieve zero squatter status by 2020.

“First, a management and settlement committee was set up under the state Housing Ministry and Land and Survey Department to address squatter issues and the committee meets twice a year,” he said.

Karim added that the government had also implemented the state squatter action plan approved in 2010 which was monitored by the committee.

“This plan comprised strategic courses covering aspects of local planning, enforcement and development of housing in order to address squatter issues in a comprehensive and integrated manner.

Peranak rumah panjai tau berundingka ubah tukuh ke digaga HDC: Abd Karim

February 6, 2014

KUCHING: Sekeda rumah panjai ke enda setuju enggau tukuh ke digaga Opis Pemansang Pengawa Berumah (HDC) tau madahka tukuh ti dikedeka sida.

Menteri Muda Pengawa Berumah, Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah madah, enti sema tukuh ke digaga HDC bisi penanggul sereta enda baka ti dikedeka sida, pekara nya patut dipejuraika.

“Enti bisi penanggul, pekara nya ulih diperunding. Penemu kami, asal iya enda lari ari tukuh asal rumah panjai nya empu.

“Rumah panjai patut ngembuan tukuh ke mandangka pengidup begulai…bisi ruai, tanju, tempuan, bilik, dapur. Kelebih agi baka ruai alai mayuh ngatur aktiviti. Tang enti bisi timbal madahka ruai ke ditukuh HDC nya kelalu mit, pekara baka tu patut dipejuraika,” ku Abdul Karim seraya madah, orang ke ngempu tanggungpengawa ngaga rumah panjai baru tu, Menteri Muda Pengawa Berumah enggau Pemansang Menua Pesisir, Datuk Francis Harden.

Lalu baka nya mega enggau bilik, ku iya, laban bilik rumah panjai enti nitih sigi besai laban nitihka pemayuh tubuh sesepintu.

“Enti enda salah aku pemesai bilik nya kada enda urung 700 kaki besegi, lebih kurang baka Rumah Mesra Rakyat (RMR), tang taja pia, agi bisi tanah ke belakang rumah panjai nya, enti sema sida iya deka ngaga besai agi.

“Enti kitai meda, maya ngemesaika rumah panjai, ke belakang kin ke digaga sida iya besai agi,” ku iya.

Follow original design when building longhouses, HDC told

February 5, 2014

KUCHING: Longhouses that deviate too much from their original design must be relooked into, said Housing Assistant Minister Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah.

“If there is any problem with the design of longhouses built by Housing Development Corporation (HDC), we will have to address it. The design cannot deviate too much from the original design of longhouses. For instance, the ‘ruai’ is for communal activities. If it is too small, it wouldn’t do,” he said.

On complaints from certain quarters in Betong who were not happy with specifications allegedly given by HDC because they made their longhouses smaller, Abdul Karim said he was not aware of any application from the area.

Marzuki Qari champ while Dayang Marsita Qariah champ

December 16, 2013

WELL DONE: Karim hands over to Marzuki (left) the champion prize in the Qari (adult category) Inter-Scheme (state level) Quran Recital Competition 2013.

SIBU: Marzuki Batu from Taman Sukma, Kuching was champion in the Qari section (adult) of the Inter-Scheme (state-level) Quran Recital Competition 2013 held at Darul Husna mosque, Sibujaya here on Saturday night.

The second place went to Bujang Karim (Taman Sukma, Kuching) and third place to Sharif Untong (Kampung Tunku RPR Astana Fasa II, Kuching).

In the Qariah section (adult), Dayang Marsita Abang Ibrahim (Taman Sourabaya Indah, Kuching) was first while Rohani Japali (Bandar Baru Samariang Fasa II, Kuching) was second and Hanim Jeraee (RPR Piasau II, Miri) third.

Bandar Baharu Sibujaya digemari ramai

December 16, 2013

SIBU: Kemajuan serta perancangan pembangunan sistematik yang dilaksanakan di Sibujaya berjaya menarik penduduk Sibu datang mendiami bandar baharu itu.

Menteri Muda Perumahan Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah berkata, Sibujaya adalah kawasan perumahan yang baharu dan moden.

Ini secara tidak langsung menyebabkan bandar baharu itu digemari ramai sehingga menjadi kawasan paling cepat berkembang maju.

Original site for Meludam RMR scheme unsuitable

November 23, 2013

MINISTRY of Housing, through the Housing Development Corporation (HDC), has originally planned to build 20 units “Rumah Mesra Rakyat” (RMR) houses under the Meludam Village Expansion Scheme.

This was dislcosed by Assistant Minister of Housing Datuk Haji Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah who said Lot 2011-2380, Block 1, Triso Land District, Meludam were supposed to be the site of the scheme. 

“However, a study conducted by HDC on the site for the Meludam Village Expansion Scheme project revealed that the site is unsuitable for housing as the area is prone to flooding,” he said.

He added that the HDC had formally applied to Betong Land and Survey Department for a new site which is at Lot 1986-2010, Block 1, Triso Land District, Meludam. 

“The application is currently under consideration by the Land and Survey Department,”said Karim in reply to Hajah Simoi Haji Peri (BN-Lingga) who had enquired when the Meludam Village Expansion Scheme project would start, at the State Legislative Assembly sitting on Thursday.

On Simoi’s second question regarding the second phase of the Lingga Village Expansion Scheme in Sri Aman, Karim said HDC had carried out land filling works at the 41-lot site. 

“Of the 41 RMR units, 15 have been completed under Phase I and handed over to successful participants.