Kerajaan Sarawak tak perlu fail kes, Petronas yang patut ke mahkamah

June 25, 2018

ERAT SILATURAHIM: Abdul Karim (dua kanan) bergambar dengan Chong (kanan), ADUN Pending, Violet Yong (dua kiri) dan bekas Ahli Parlimen Stampin, Julian tan (kiri) yang mengunjungi Majlis Rumah Terbuka Aidilfitrinya di PCC, Demak Laut semalam.

KUCHING: Kerajaan Sarawak tidak perlu memfailkan kes di Mahkamah Tinggi untuk menuntut hak ke atas minyak dan gas di negeri ini, kata Menteri Pelancongan, Kesenian, Kebudayaan, Belia dan Sukan Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah.

Sebaliknya, Abdul Karim yang juga mempunyai latar belakang sebagai peguam berkata, Petroliam National Berhad (Petronas) yang perlu berbuat demikian.

Jelas beliau, ini kerana kerajaan negeri mempunyai undang-undang khas yang terpakai iaitu Ordinan Perlombongan Minyak Sarawak 1958 (OMO), di mana bagi Petronas, undang-undang itu adalah tidak terpakai.

Abd Karim: State BN committed to protect Sarawak’s land rights

September 29, 2016

SIBU: Sarawak BN is committed to protect the state’s land rights; hence, all federal projects involving land were vetted accordingly before approvals were given.

Citing the ‘Rumah Mesra’ scheme by Syarikat Perumahan Negara Berhad (SPNB) as an example, Assistant Minister for Housing Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah said the project was slightly delayed because the state government objected to native land for affordable housing being charged to the Federal Land Commissioner.

“SPNB had to accept Sarawak’s proposal for the land status being maintained and not charged to a federal agency,” he told The Borneo Post yesterday in response to a statement by Pending assemblyman Violet Yong recently.

“This shows how committed Sarawak BN government is towards preserving state rights.”

Yong had called on the government to ensure the state’s land rights were not eroded by the 1Malaysia People’s Housing (PR1MA) programme.

She said PR1MA was a federal initiative, but it involved using state land.

In thanking Yong for her concern, Abdul Karim said in the case of PR1MA, approvals had to go through the State Planning Authority (SPA); therefore, there is no question of the state’s rights being infringed.

Hakka contribution to state lauded, Yong Tau Foo included

September 25, 2016

KUCHING: The Hakka community and the Chinese as a whole in the nation is renowned for their resilience and hardworking attitude, said Assistant Minister of Youth and Sports Datuk Abdul Karim Hamzah.

He added that since leaving mainland China many years ago, Malaysian Hakka Chinese have had a very rich history as they left their mark in the country.

“Today, your legacy prevails in the form of your famous ‘Yong Tau Foo’ dish to the development on the west coast of Peninsular Malaysia through pioneering the tin mining industry and even in Sarawak, where many lived and thrived in the first division,” he said at the Sarawak Hakka Community Association 82nd Anniversary Dinner at Chung Hua Middle School No 3 on Friday night.

“Through hardship and economic severance, the Hakka people had to be very independent before uniting as a close knitted community.”

Abdul Karim, who is also the Assistant Minister for Housing, praised the Hakka community for their emphasis in prioritising education.

“This has contributed to what our state is today. In rural areas, many Chinese schools are attended by other races and this has helped to develop a harmonious bond among one another,” he elaborated.

Karim later announced an allocation of RM20,000 in government funds to the association to carry out their activities.

New age for EPF withdrawal is a silly proposition - Karim

April 17, 2015

KUCHING: The proposal to extend the age for withdrawal of Employees Provident Fund (EPF) from the present 55 to 60 years has received flak from contributors.

While some said it was a “silly proposal” there were contributors who described the suggestion as “frustrating”, while others proposed that an acceptable mechanism be worked out.

On the other hand, Assistant Minister of Youth Development Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah said he personally disagreed with the idea and was puzzled why someone came up with the ‘silly preposition’.

“I’m just puzzled who came up with this silly proposition…55 is a good age as that is the year of retirement and contributors can opt whether to take out their money in toto at that age or leave it in EPF to reap more dividends,” he said in his WhatsApp message yesterday.

He was commenting on the call by Malaysian Trade Unions Congress (MTUC) to support EPF’s retirement withdrawal age proposal.

Abdul Karim, who is also Assistant Minister of Housing and Asajaya assemblyman, urged MTUC not to “change the goal post” and frustrate contributors.

“Don’t frustrate contributors as those money kept in EPF are contributors’ money and all through the years of employment, the contributors had been contributing and maybe have specific plan on what to use with the money once they reach 55,” he asserted.

State DAP doesn’t need PKR or PAS to help them

April 4, 2015

SIBU: State DAP is running dry on issues and their latest move to go against hudud law proved it – knowing that PAS is not strong in Sarawak.

State BN secretary-general Datuk Dr Stephen Rundi was reacting to state DAP organising secretary Violet Yong’s statement, echoing party chief Chong Chieng Jen’s call to state PKR to quit Pakatan Rakyat (PR) Sarawak and work with them to form a new coalition.

“Hudud will not be implemented in Sarawak, therefore there is no issue here as clearly clarified by Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Adenan Satem.

Raban DAP enggau PKR berami ngabang Hari Raya ngagai Karim

August 4, 2014

KUCHING: Menteri Muda Pengawa Berumah ke mega Kaban Kaunsil Besai Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) Datuk Abdul Karim Hamzah kemari, nerima penatai raban pengabang Hari Raya ari Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) enggau Democratic Action Party (DAP) di rumah iya di Jalai Astana ditu.

Raban DAP diuluka Chairman DAP Sarawak ke mega MP Bandar Kuching sereta ADUN Kota Sentosa Chong Chieng Jen lalu PKR diuluka Chairman ke mega ADUN Ba’kelalan Baru Bian.

Raban ari kededua parti penyakal nya ngungkupka awak enda kurang ari sejam begulai enggau pengabang bukai ngerami Hari Raya di rumah Karim lalu nya mandangka bida runding politik enda nagang sida berami begulai.

“Nadai salah kami raban ketuai ari parti penyakal begusung ngagai ketuai ari perintah Barisan Nasional (BN) rambau pengerami Hari Raya tu.

“Kitai (PKR) bisi nerima surat kangau ari Karim lalu ba pengerami Hari Raya taun ke udah kitai bisi ngabang ngagai rumah Datuk Rohani Abdul Karim sereta ketuai BN ke bukai,”ku Mandal Chairman PKR Sarawak ke mega ADUN Batu Lintang See Chee How ke bisi datai.

Nyaut tanya pemberita senentang penunga ADUN (PKR) Krian Ali Biju ti didinga deka ngalih ngagai parti bukai bedau lama tu tadi, See madahka Ali mengkang dalam PKR lalu iya sigi enda ngalih.

“Ali diatu benung kiruh ngabang, betemu enggau rayat di Saratok enggau Bintulu lalu nya meh kebuah iya enda enggau raban PKR ngabang di Kuching.

Abdul Karim does not mix friendship with politics

Tuesday August 21, 2012

KUCHING: When it comes to politics, he is among one of the more vocal elected representatives in the State Legislative Assembly.

But outside of the august house, what has been argued with the Opposition members would be put aside.

Assistant Youth Development and Housing Minister Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah, who is Asajaya assemblyman and chief political secretary to the Chief Minister, said he did not mix friendship with politics.

This was proven during the first day of his Hari Raya open house near Jalan Astana here, receiving numerous guests and even DAP leaders such as Chong Chieng Jen, Violet Yong and Wong King Wei.

Friendship made and renewed: Karim (background right) ushering guests during

his Hari Raya open house near Jln Astana here yesterday.

“This is the kind of maturity we see in our politics nowadays. Of course we argue during the State Legislative Assembly, but when it comes to celebrating festivals such as Hari Raya, all of them from different racial and religious, even political backgrounds come together and celebrate,” he said yesterday.

Abdul Karim said he was honoured that people from all walks of life and society came to his open house, including his constituents, community leaders and even the opposition.

“I hope other YBs and MPs would do the same. This shows the peace and harmony our country is enjoying,” he said.

Only 500 at Bersih 3.0 in Kuching

April 29, 2012

"In the state elections last year, they won more seats and they said it is because the people in the state wanted change. But in seats they lost, they accused EC of not being transparent, BN buying votes, phantom voters and so on." Tuan Haji Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah

KUCHING: Only about 500 people showed up for the Bersih 3.0 rally at the Old Courthouse here yesterday, despite the organisers claiming they could attract supporters numbering thousands.

The two-hour sit-in protest started with a one-kilometre walk from Hilton Hotel and concluded peacefully at 4pm in front of the Old Courthouse facing the Kuching Waterfront.

Bersih 3.0 is calling for electoral reforms ahead of the upcoming 13th general election.

Some of the civil movement’s demands include cleaning up of electoral roll, reforming postal votes, use of indelible ink, free and fair access to mainstream media, and stopping corruption.

Among those present were state DAP secretary and Bandar Kuching MP Chong Chieng Jen, state PKR chairman Baru Bian, state PKR vice chief See Chee How, state DAP vice chairman Chiew Chin Sing, state DAP treasurer Violet Yong and national PKR women vice chief Voon Shiak Ni.

Assistant Youth Minister Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah, when asked for his comments on the Bersih 3.0 rally in Kuching, said it showed there was lukewarm response to the rally masterminded by the opposition.

He compared the rally to the programmes officiated at by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak in Kuching which attracted crowds of more than 10,000 though it was held on the same day as the Bersih 3.0 rally.

Police gave me wrong summons, claims driver

By ZORA CHAN
zora@thestar.com.my
Tuesday June 8, 2010

The people must report to the police if they felt that the police had acted beyond their powers, and the media must also not give prominence to the DAP for highlighting the people’s problem. 

- Tuan Haji Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah

A DRIVER who purportedly beat the traffic lights claimed that he was only stopped by police about 2km away from the point he allegedly committed the offence.

And when he was reluctant to produce his driving licence, the police officer who stopped him asked: “You mau main kasar? (Do you want to play rough?)”.

Motorist Chong Eng Jee, 28, said the incident happened on June 1 at around 11pm. He was driving past Jalan Datuk Merican Salleh to Jalan Kwong Lee Bank when he realised a Mobile Police Vehicle had been trailing him.

He claimed that he had driven “cautiously and made a U-turn at the Jalan Kwong Lee Bank junction to Lorong Sebor and headed towards Jalan Datuk Abdul Rahman Rahim”.

“At Jalan Datuk Abdul Rahman Rahim, the MPV stopped me and a policeman asked for my driving licence. When I was reluctant to show my licence because I felt I didn’t do anything wrong, the policeman threateningly asked me if “I was trying to play rough”. I was alone and there were two of them, so I gave them my licence,” he told reporters at the DAP headquarters in Kuching yesterday.

Chong said the policeman had issued a summons stating that he had beaten the red light at Jalan Kwong Lee Bank when he made the U-turn.

Pending assemblywoman Violet Yong who called a press conference to highlight the issue said if Chong was at fault, the MPV should have stopped the driver immediately instead of allowing him to drive another two kilometres until Jalan Datuk Abdul Rahman Rahim.