PBB veep wishes UPP ‘all the best’ in name, logo rebranding exercise

December 8, 2018

KUCHING: A Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) leader wishes ‘all the best’ for United People’s Party (UPP) in whatever new name and logo that the latter wishes to choose.

Minister of Tourism, Arts, Culture, Youth and Sports Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah, who is also PBB vice-president, sees UPP leaders as those being truly committed to Sarawak, even though the party is not among the founding members of Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS).

“Although they’re not in GPS as a founding member, they subscribe to the same cause which GPS is fighting for,” he said in a statement yesterday.

UPP expects to unveil its new name and new logo at the opening ceremony of its extraordinary delegates conference (EDC) today, set to take place at the Thian Court of Crown Towers at Jalan Pending here.

‘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.

‘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.

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.

Pemimpin UPP, TERAS wajar diterima oleh BN: Abdul Karim

June 6, 2015

KUCHING: Pemimpin Parti Rakyat Bersatu (UPP) dan Parti Tenaga Rakyat Sarawak (TERAS) wajar diterima oleh Barisan Nasional (BN) kerana mereka mendukung prinsip-prinsip BN baik pada peringkat persekutuan mahupun negeri.

Menurut Menteri Muda Pembangunan Belia Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah, pemimpin kedua-dua parti politik itu juga dipilih di bawah logo BN.

“Saya percaya harapan dan keinginan Perdana Menteri (Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak) adalah agar rakyat bersatu di bawah mana-mana saluran atau parti BN yang mendukung prinsip BN. Saya fikir ia juga prinsip-prinsip yang diguna pakai oleh BN negeri,” ujarnya semalam.

Beliau berkata demikian berhubung kenyataan Parti Demokratik Progresif Sarawak (SPDP) yang menolak konsep BN Plus yang disokong oleh Najib pada Majlis Pemimpin Bersama Rakyat di Stadium Perpaduan, Khamis lepas.

Kenyataan ahli kanan SPDP menolak konsep tersebut kerana antara lain menurut mereka ia akan memusnahkan kerjasama antara parti komponen BN yang telah menyatu dan mengukuhkan perikatan pemerintah.

Abdul Karim menegaskan pendekatan mesra BN yang dibawa oleh TERAS dan UPP memastikan mereka terus berada dalam kabinet kerajaan negeri selain menghadiri acara rasmi.

“Kita melihat menteri, menteri muda dan ketua parti dari parti mesra BN menghadiri acara ini kerana pemimpin mereka mendukung prinsip BN selain dipilih di bawah logo BN,” katanya.

Inclusion of UPP, Teras in BN fold justified — Karim

June 6, 2015

KUCHING: Leaders of United People’s Party (UPP) and Parti Tenaga Rakyat Sarawak (Teras) are subscribing to Barisan Nasional (BN)’s principles both at federal and state levels and as such, making it right for both parties to be part of the ruling coalition.

Making such remarks, Assistant Minister of Youth Development Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah, added that the leaders of both parties were also elected under BN banner.

“I believe that Prime Minister (Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak) wishes and hopes are for the people to be united under any BN (component) party or vehicle that subscribes to its principles.

“I guess that they are also the principles adopted by the state BN,” he told The Borneo Post via WhatsApp yesterday.

Abdul Karim was asked on a statement by SPDP rejecting the BN-Plus concept endorsed by Najib during the ‘Leader-Meets-People’ session at Stadium Perpaduan here on Thursday.

The statement by senior SPDP members rejected such concept, saying that it – among other things – would destroy the cooperation between existing BN component parties that had served as the bedrock of unity and strength of the coalition.

On this, Abdul Karim – who is also Asajaya assemblyman – stressed that the BN-friendly approach by leaders of Teras and UPP had seen them being retained in the state cabinet and attending numerous state functions.

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.

Karim defends Abg Johari's presence at UPP triennial delegates conference

KUCHING: PBB Supreme Council member Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah defended the party deputy president Datuk Qmar Abang Johari Tun Openg for attending the United People’s Party (UPP) triennial delegates conference (TDC) last Sunday as guest-of-honour.

He said it must not be construed as disrespecting SUPP.

“PBB respects friendly parties like UPP that adhere to Barisan Nasional political ideologies, as much as PBB respects SUPP," he said yesterday as quoted by a local English daily.

Karim: UPP kaban BN

January 14, 2015

Parti komponen BN bukai patut bebasa sereta badu bejaku pasal pekara nya

KUCHING: Penatai Sapit Presiden Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB),Datuk Amar Abang Johari Tun Openg ngagai Aum Pengari Tiga Taun Sekali (TDC) ti keterubah endar diatur Parti Rakyat Bersatu (UPP) kelai bebasaka parti nya, ti ngembuan ideologi politik ke sebaka enggau Barisan Nasional (BN).

Kaban Kaunsil Besai PBB Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah madah, berindik ari nya parti komponen BN ke bukai patut mereti sereta anang bejakuka pekara nya agi, laban nya semina deka ngeruga gaya politik di nengeri tu.

Ku Menteri Muda Pemansang Raban Nembiak (Mengeri) nya, sekalika UPP tauka Parti Sa’ati Rakyat Sarawak (SUPP), sida endang kaban PBB.

“Baka PBB bebasaka SUPP ke nyadi kaban komponen BN, PBB mega bebasaka raban ti bekaban enggau BN baka UPP, ti ngembuan ideologi politik ti sebaka enggau BN.

“Tambah mega pengari rayat UPP dipilih rayat nyadi chalun BN sereta duduk ba sepiak ‘perintah’ dalam Kunsil Nengeri (DUN) ke lebih agi dalam Kabinet Nengeri,” ku iya madah ngagai Utusan Borneo ditu, kemari.

Iya mansutka jaku tu lebuh nimbal pasal penerang SUPP ti madahka diri enda lantang ati ngagai ketuai kanan BN nengeri ti mega sapit Presiden PBB, Datuk Amar Abang Johari Tun Abang openg ke ngulu TDC UPP apin ti lama.

Presiden SUPP Senator Datuk Dr. Sim Kui Hian dalam penerang berita madah, ulah Abang Johari deka ngeyaru sereta mandangka gaya politik ti salah ngagai rayat Sarawak enggau kaban SUPP ke bukai.

PBB is always ready for election - Karim

October 9, 2014

"For PBB, state election can be held anytime.” Tuan Haji Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah

KUCHING: There are no lazy elected representatives in Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) as those who do not perform know they will be replaced.

PBB Youth chief Datuk Fadillah Yusof, who made this affirmation recently, said the party was always ready for any election, including the next state election, because the elected representatives were always on the ground serving the people.

“There is no such thing as election time or no election time. We are always working hard on the ground, and so we are always prepared.

“It has been the expectation of the people as well as BN top leaders that PBB’s representatives must serve the people all year round. Because we serve the people all year round, we are ready for election anytime.

“PBB has no place for lazy representatives. Those who are lazy can stay only for one term. It has been the culture of PBB to work hard to serve the people so that our chief minister can call for election anytime and PBB representatives will win all the seats for him,” the Petra Jaya MP told The Borneo Post recently.

On the recent speculation that Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Adenan Satem might be calling for state election second half of next year, Fadillah said calling for state election was Adenan’s prerogative.

He affirmed that when Adenan finally decided to call for state election, PBB would back him up just as it had been doing since Adenan took over from former Chief Minister Tun Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud early this year.

Abdul Karim: New parties bring new equation to polls

July 19, 2014

SIBU: The coming state election is set to be an interesting affair following the emergence of new political parties but BN will still prevail, PBB Supreme Council member Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah said yesterday.

He believed that an amicable solution could be found to resolve the current political development without exerting a strain on the coalition.

“People can see that only BN has the capability and experience to govern and administer the state. The opposition is merely ‘empty drums’ that make a lot of noise, but doesn’t have the experience to govern a big state like Sarawak.

“But being a democratic country, they do have a role to play as a responsible opposition.

“The presence of new political parties and especially those from SPDP and SUPP that has set up new parties but still declare they are supporting BN and even sitting in the state cabinet, will make the forthcoming election interesting,” Abdul Karim, who is Assistant Minister of Youth Development and Asajaya assemblyman said.

In the latest development, Dato Sri Wong Soon Koh would lead the newly registered UPP (United People’s Party) and joining him were Datuk Dr Jerip Susil (Bengoh), Dr Johnical Rayong Ngipa (Engkilili) and Ranum Mina (Opar).

Tan Sri William Mawan Ikom, meanwhile, will continue to helm Parti Tenaga Rakyat Sarawak (Teras).