Rainforest in The City not to be missed — Abdul Karim

July 04, 2019

Abdul Karim (fourth left) and Snowdan (third left) hold up the LED Light Balls at the launch while others give the thumbs up. 

KUCHING: The public are urged not to miss Rainforest in The City (RITC) 2019 at Kuching Amphitheatre, Jalan Taman Budaya here.

Minister of Tourism, Arts, Culture, Youth and Sports Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah said RITC, which offers a variety of exciting performances, is a ‘warm-up’ event before the Rainforest World Music Festival (RWMF).

He said various interesting events such as cultural performances, music, nature and food of ethnic Sarawakians as well as hi-tech lighting arrangements are in store for visitors.

‘Turn Sifma into a yearly or biennial affair’

June 30, 2019

Abdul Karim, seen here with Snowdan arrives at the concert.

KUCHING: The inaugural ‘Sarawak International Festival of Music and Arts’ (Sifma) should be made a yearly or biennial affair, says Minister of Tourism, Arts, Culture, Youth and Sports Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah.

“The way I see it, we should not let this festival to be a one-off festival. I would love to see it held as a yearly or biennially event.

“With proper organisation and talented musicians in Sarawak, we could make this festival into another music event like the Rainforest World Music Festival (RWMF), especially when we will have a performing arts centre ready in the next two years,” he said at the opening ceremony of the ‘Sifma Gala Concert’ in the old DUN Complex here on Friday night.

S’wak govt grants Olympic swimmer Welson Sim RM91,500 for training

April 30, 2019,

Abdul Karim (second right) presents an incentive to Sim (second left). Also seen are Assistant Youth and Sports Minister Datuk Snowdan Lawan (left) and Sarawak State Sports Council director director Dr Ong Kong Swee.

KUCHING: The Sarawak government has granted Olympic and national swimmer Welson Sim RM91,500 for his training expenses in Melbourne, Australia over the past four months since January, this year.

The 21-year-old Sarawakian swimmer from Jalan Foochow, here, who is currently undergoing intensive training in Melbourne, is aiming to participate for the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo.

“The state government will not let our athletes be left on the ledge, that’s why we have to come in,” said Minister of Tourism, Arts, Culture, Youths and Sports Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah who was accompanied by Sim when met by reporters at the lobby of State Legislative Assembly (DUN) Complex, Petra Jaya here today.

‘Jelajah Belia Sarawak’ 2019 to be launched at Asajaya Sports Complex

April 11, 2019

Abdul Karim and Snowdan on his right and other officers hold the banner to promote the event.

KUCHING: The ‘Jelajah Belia Sarawak’ 2019 event will kick off this Saturday (April 13) with the launching ceremony at Asajaya Sports Complex in Samarahan.

Minister of Tourism, Arts, Culture, Youth and Sports Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah said the event will cover all the 40 districts across the state, whether in urban, sub-urban or rural areas.

He pointed out that several activities, which are targeted at youths would be organised in conjunction with the event that will run until end of next year.

Imbangi masa antara sukan digital dan fizikal: Abdul Karim

March 17, 2019

MULA!: Abdul Karim (kanan), Snowdan dan Hii melepaskan peserta bagi kategori veteran lelaki dan wanita sempena Program Larian Belia Sarawak 2019 di Le’ Park Dewan Suarah Kuching semalam.

KUCHING: Minat melampau golongan muda masa kini terhadap permainan video membimbangkan kerana ia menyumbang kepada pembangunan fizikal yang tidak sihat.

Menteri Pelancongan, Kesenian, Kebudayaan, Belia dan Sukan Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah berkata, meskipun permainan video kini telah diterima sebagai salah satu bidang sukan, namun ia perlu seimbang dengan sukan fizikal.

“Disebabkan terlalu terdedah dengan permainan video, golongan muda dilihat lupa akan aspek pembangunan fizikal.

Electric bus debuts on Friday, passengers ride for free for 3 months

February 26, 2019

The bus will operate hourly, have free WiFi and cover 26 stops around Kuching city centre.

KUCHING: Sarawak’s first electric bus will hit the roads this Friday (March 1) enabling locals and visitors here to travel around the city centre with ease.

Tourism, Arts, Culture, Youth and Sports Minister Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah said the CRRC electric bus will go on a three-month trial run covering 26 stations that include the Open Air Market, Kuching Waterfront, iCom Square and Sarawak Museum, among others.

“The free electric bus will provide commuters with the convenience to travel around the city centre, especially for those who are from outside Kuching.

Sarawak to host world badminton amateur tourney

February 23, 2019

Karim with (from left) Ong, Snowdan, Wu, Hii, Ting (third left, standing) and others giving the thumbs up during the press conference.

KUCHING: Former and current badminton superstars like Malaysia’s Datuk Lee Chong Wei and Koo Kien Keat as well as Indonesia’s Taufik Hidayat are expected to grace the 26th World Masters Badminton Championship Kuching at the Sarawak Sports Complex, Petra Jaya from Oct 31 to Nov 3.

More than 3,000 shuttlers, officials and supporters, friends and family members from more than 20 countries will converge on Kuching for this event specially organised for non-professional players aged 25 and above.

It is also the largest amateur badminton tournament in the world.

“We are indeed honoured that Kuching, Sarawak was given the trust to be the host for this World Chinese Badminton Federation (WCBF) tournament which is held outside China for the third time after the Philippines and Thailand.

Sarawak pertama di Malaysia miliki ‘aerodome’

February 22, 2019

Abdul Karim bersama (duduk dari kanan) Setiausaha Tetap Kementerian Pelancongan, Kesenian, Kebudayaan, Belia dan Sukan Hii Chang Kee, Presiden WCBF Wu Jun Yan, Menteri Muda Sukan Datuk Snowdan Lawan dan Ketua Pegawai Eksekutif Perbadanan Sukan Sarawak (PSS) Dr Ong Kong Swee bergambar kenangan bersama wakil dari WCBF Sarawak dan WCBF.

KUCHING: Sarawak akan menjadi negeri pertama memiliki fasiliti aerodome yang akan digunakan sebagai venue penganjuran Kejohanan Badminton Masters Dunia Ke-26 diadakan dari 31 Oktober hingga 3 November 2019.

Menurut Menteri Pelancongan, Kesenian, Kebudayaan, Belia dan Sukan, Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah, pembelian stadium buatan dengan kos bernilai RM2.6 juta itu telah dibuat dan ia dijangka mula dipasang pada Julai depan di perkarangan parkir bersebelahan Stadium Negeri, Petra Jaya.

“Untuk mendapatkan 3,000 atlet bermain bermakna kita memerlukan gelanggang yang besar kerana gelanggang sedia ada tidak mencukupi.

FAS tidak dibiarkan ‘terkapai-kapai’

January 27, 2019

SEDIA: Pemain pasukan Liga Premier Sarawak menggunakan jersi rasmi pasukan pada pelancaran di Kuching petang semalam.

KUCHING: Kerajaan negeri memberi jaminan akan terus membantu Persatuan Bola Sepak Sarawak (FAS) dalam meringankan beban ditanggung badan induk bola sepak negeri itu.

Menteri Pelancongan, Kesenian, Kebudayaan, Belia dan Sukan, Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah berkata kerajaan negeri tidak membiarkan FAS ‘terkapai-kapai’ dalam mengurus pasukan bola sepak negeri ini menghadapi kejohanan peringkat kebangsaan (Liga Malaysia).

“Sudah menjadi tanggungawab kerajaan negeri memastikan setiap persatuan sukan dibantu terutamanya bola sepak merupakan sukan nombor satu di dunia termasuk di Sarawak,” katanya ketika merasmikan Majlis Pelancaran Jersi, Memperkenalkan Pemain dan Lagu Sarawak FA di sini semalam.

Ministry to develop esports in Sarawak

January 27, 2019

KUCHING: Ministry of Tourism, Arts, Cultures, Youth and Sports will help in the development of esports or electronic sports in Sarawak as it involved youth and esports is now widely recognised and accepted in the world.

Its minister Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah said playing computer games o electronic games is no longer regarded as a nuisance by the parents who were once worried that because their children are not sweating but sitting in front of computer games every day instead of getting involved in sports.

"Esports has reached its pinnacles as it is accepted as a sport in Sukma and in the Southeast Asia (SEA) Games. Esports will be competed as a medal event in the SEA Games in the Philippines.

Kerajaan negeri janji dana tambahan untuk FAS

Januari 26, 2019

(Dari dua kiri) Raymond, Abdullah, Abdul Karim dan Snowdan memperagakan jersi rasmi Sarawak bagi musim 2019.

KUCHING: Persatuan Bolasepak Sarawak (FAS) mendapat suntikan moral selepas kerajaan negeri mempertimbangkan untuk menambah dana tahunan kepada RM4 juta setahun bagi keperluan mengurus pasukan bola sepak negeri.

Perkara itu diumumkan oleh Menteri Pelancongan, Kesenian, Kebudayaan, Belia dan Sukan Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah semasa Majlis Pelancaran Jersi, Memperkenalkan Pemain dan Lagu Sarawak FA bertempat di Pasar Raya Besar Mydin Petra Jaya hari ini.

“Setiap tahun kita memberi geran kepada FAS sebanyak RM3.5 juta. Tetapi FAS ada menulis kepada kita untuk ditambahkan, jadi saya sudah bawa ke atas dan tidak akan menjadi masalah,” jelas Abdul Karim.

Sarawak govt conducting study to gauge views, needs of youths

November 19, 2018

Abang Johari poses for a wefie with youths while Abdul Karim (second left) and others look on after the launching of Sarawak Youth Day 2018 at Sibu Indoor Stadium.

SIBU: The Sarawak government through its Ministry of Tourism, Arts, Culture, Youth and Sports is carrying out a Youth Index Study to gauge the views and needs of Sarawak youths.

Tourism, Arts, Culture, Youth and Sports Minister Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah said the study, which began August last year, involves at least 14,000 respondents from 40 districts across Sarawak.He added that the study is done together with the Institute For Youth Research Malaysia (Iyres).

Sarawak is the third state in the country to carry out such study, he noted.

Galeri : Asian Intercity Bowling Championship

November 1, 2018

READY TO ROLL: Minister of Tourism, Arts, Culture, Youth and Sports Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah (centre) joins (from left) MTBC vice president and ABAS vice president Robert Lu, Asian Intercity Bowling Congress president Johnson Cheng, Kuching North City Commission mayor Datuk Abang Wahap Abang Julai, Assistant Youth and Sports Minister Datuk Snowdan Lawan, Sarawak Sports Corporation CEO Dr Ong Kong Swee and Megalanes Sarawak managing director Jackie Ting as he declares open the Asian Intercity Bowling Championship at Meagalanes Sarawak, E-Mart Batu Kawa yesterday.

  

Galeri: Launching of Sarawak Regatta-Kuching Waterfront Festival 2018

October 27, 2018

Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg with Minister of Tourism, Arts, Culture, Youth and Sports Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah (partially hidden, second from right) and Assistant Minister of Youth and Sports Datuk Snowdan Lawan (left) after the eye-dotting ceremony of dragon boats at the Sarawak Regatta-Kuching Waterfront Festival 2018.

Sibu hosts Sarawak Youths Day 2018 celebration

November 9, 2018

Abdul Karim (centre),Snowdan (second right),Dr Ong (right) and Hii (second left) show the official logo for the Sarawak Youths Day 2018.

KUCHING: Sarawak Youths Day 2018 will be celebrated for 2 days on November 16-18 at the Sibu Indoor Stadium.

Minister for Tourism, Arts, Culture, Youth and Sports Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah said various activities will be held in conjunction with the celebration.

“The objective of celebrating the Youths Day is to acknowledge the contributions of youths as part of the development agenda in the state.

Sarawak contingent reminded of their mission in Perak

September 9, 2018

Karim (fourth left) helping Abang Johari to put on the official Sarawak contingent jacket for Sukma as (from right) Snowdan, Uggah and assistants chef-de-mission look on.

KUCHING: Sarawak athletes competing in Sukma XIX in Perak have been reminded to conduct themselves well, keep their focus or be sent home in disgrace.

The advice came from Minister of Tourism, Arts, Culture, Youth and Sports Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah yesterday.

“We don’t want to hear anyone being picked up by the police, get into fights, being reported of disciplinary issues or you will be on the next flight home,” he warned.

Hak Sarawak ke atas imigresen perlu dikekalkan: Karim

August 28, 2018 

TEGAS: Karim (tengah) bercakap kepada media di Kuching semalam. Turut kelihatan Menteri Muda Belia dan Sukan Datuk Snowdan Lawan (kiri). 

KUCHING: Hak Sarawak ke atas bidang imigresen perlu dikekalkan selamanya demi kedaulatan dan kepentingan rakyat negeri ini.

Menteri Pelancongan, Kesenian, Kebudayaan, Belia dan Sukan Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah berkata bidang imigresen bagi Sarawak adalah di luar kuasa politik.

Sama ada Kerajaan Sarawak dipegang oleh Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS), Barisan Nasional (BN) mahupun Pakatan Harapan (PH), hak imigresen adalah kekal seperti yang termaktub dalam Perjanjian Malaysia 1963 (1963).

Star-studded affair as Kuching plays host to Miss World Malaysia 2018

August 28, 2018

Abdul Karim (seated, third right), flanked by Snowdan (third left) and Hii, together with organisers and the 18 semi-finalists of Miss World Malaysia 2018 during the press conference.

KUCHING: A bevy of beauties has descended on the city as Kuching plays host to the prestigious Miss World Malaysia 2018 for the first time.

Tourism, Arts, Culture, Youth and Sports Minister Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah in a press conference yesterday said the city is honoured to stage such a grand event, which will see 12 finalists vie for the title.

“The star-studded event on Sept 8 at Borneo Convention Centre Kuching (BCCK) will be graced by Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg.

Persediaan kontinjen Sarawak memuaskan

August 21, 2018

MEMUASKAN: Karim (tengah) ketika bercakap pada sidang media dengan Pembantu Chef-de-Mission (ACDM) semasa mesyuarat yang diadakan di Kuching semalam.

KUCHING:Menteri Pelancongan, Kesenian, Kebudayaan, Belia dan Sukan Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah telah menyuarakan kepuasan terhadap persediaan yang sudah dilaksanakan kontinjen negeri ke Sukan Malaysia Ke-19 (SUKMA XIX) yang akan diadakan di Perak dari 11 hingga 22 September depan.

Beliau berkata demikian semasa pertemuan dengan Pembantu Chef-de-Mission (ACDM) setiap persatuan sukan yang diadakan di sini semalam.

“SUKMA XIX hanya tinggal 22 hari lagi dan kita mesti bersedia menghadapi cabaran yang akan datang ketika pertandingan bermula,” katanya pada pertemuan itu yang dihadiri 90 peserta termasuk Menteri Muda Belia dan Sukan Datuk Snowdan Lawan yang juga Chef-de-Mission (CDM) dan Ketua Pegawai Eksekutif Perbadanan Sukan Sarawak Dr Ong Kong Swee.

21st AMAC expected to draw record numbers

August 9, 2018

Karim (right) with (from second right) Snowdan, Pulainthiran, Hii and Sivapragasam at the launching of the 21st AMAC website. 

KUCHING: The 21st Asia Masters Athletics Championships (AMAC) from Dec 2 to 6 will be one of the major sports tourism events that Sarawak will be hosting next year, which coincides with the Visit Sarawak Year 2019.

Others include the World Para Swimming Championships that will be held at the Pandelela Rinong Aquatic Centre in July, and the Kuching Marathon in August.

“Kuching and Sarawak are indeed happy and honoured to be given the trust to organise this event (AMAC) because it will it not only display our organising skills but also showcase Kuching and Sarawak to the world,” said Minister of Tourism, Arts, Culture, Youth and Sports Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah.