First inter-school swimming meet at Kota Samarahan

July 7, 2011

KUCHING: The Kota Samarahan swimming pool would be filled with young swimmers on July 23 and 24 when an inaugural inter-school swimming meet takes place.

All schools from Samarahan and Kuching divisions have been invited to participate in the First Samarahan-Kuching Divisions Inter-School Secondary/Primary Swimming Championship, which is jointly organised by Kota Samarahan Amateur Swimming Association (KOTAS) and Kota Samarahan Education Department.

KOTAS president and event advisor, Asajaya assemblyman Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah, noted that this will be the first ever such event to be held at Kota Samarahan Swimming Pool.

He said in a press statement recently that it would be a great opportunity for young swimmers from Samarahan division to gain experience in competing against those from Kuching.

“It is also a great opportunity for schools in Kuching to visit Samarahan division and enjoy competing at a different venue,” he said.

Abdul Karim would be sponsoring the perpetual trophies for the champion primary school and champion secondary school, while Milo (Nestle) will be sponsoring medals and beverage.

“It is our hope that this inter-school championship will continue to be held annually to encourage more children to be involved in swimming as part of a healthy, active lifestyle as well as identifying new talent to enhance Sarawak’s strength in the sports arena,” said Abdul Karim.

Karim lauds organisers for calling off street rally

July 6, 2011

KUCHING: Chief Political Secretary to Chief Minister Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah lauds the organisers of Bersih 2.0 rally for calling off the street protest.

“Street protest disrupts peace and causes inconvenience to the public, including businesses. Such a protest is a nuisance,” Karim said when commenting on the proposed street rally.

He was also glad that Bersih chief organiser Datuk Ambiga Sreenevasan had agreed with the government’s suggestion (to hold the rally in a stadium).

He said that any demonstration should be held in a controlled environment to ensure public order and safety.

Karim who is also Asajaya assemblyman stressed that demonstration such as this Bersih rally must only be held with a permit from the relevant authorities especially the police.

In a twist of events, Ambiga who had an audience with Yang di-Pertuan Agong Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin, yesterday was said to have called off the street rally and instead hold it in a stadium yet to be announced.

State Parti Keadilan Rakyat information chief See Chee How meanwhile commended Bersih leaders and coordinators for seeking an audience with the Agong, and agreed that the rally should be held in a stadium.

Karim thumbs up Sng in state administration

July 3, 2011

“Sng has shown his capability and ability when he was an assistant minister (prior to the April 16 polls).” Tuan Haji Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah

KUCHING: PRS president Tan Sri Dr James Masing, who is normally very vocal, was tight-lipped yesterday when asked to comment about former Pelagus assemblyman Larry Sng’s return to the state’s administration.

“Sng is no longer a PRS member and I have nothing more to say about him. We sacked him for reasons which are public knowledge,” Masing said in an SMS to thesundaypost.

The Land Development Minister added that Sng’s appointment was the sole prerogative of Chief Minister Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud.

It was reported yesterday that Sng would soon return to work in the Chief Minister’s Department.

“He (Sng) will be in charge of youth affairs,” Taib told reporters on Friday.

Taib said the reason he wanted Sng back was because of the latter’s good experience working with youths and that he is “a good guy who did very well previously”.

Meanwhile, chief political secretary to the Chief Minister, Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah, said he only knew of this development from the newspapers.

Pembangkang sukakan publisiti murahan

July 1, 2011

SANTAI: Kelihatan ADUN-ADUN yang baru menyanyi ketika majlis makan malam anjuran Kelab Penyokong BN.

KUCHING: Pengerusi Ke­lab Penyokong Barisan Nasional (BN) Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah menyi­fatkan tindakan pihak pem­bangkang keluar dari dewan pada hari terakhir Persi­dangan Dewan Undangan Negeri (DUN) yang baru selesai sebagai publisiti murahan.

Katanya, tindakan mereka adalah sekadar untuk meraih perhatian daripada pihak media.

“Pada hari terakhir mereka (pembangkang) terpaksa membuat seolah-olah pub­lisiti murahan di mana mere­ka bertindak meninggalkan dewan sebanyak dua kali untuk mendapat perhatian media.

“Mereka meninggalkan dewan ketika Timbalan Ketua Menteri menyampaikan uca­pan penggulungan dan ketika ADUN Tarat menyampaikan ucapan penggulungan, mere­ka turut keluar,” katanya lanjut.

Beliau berkata demikian ketika berucap pada majlis makan malam anjuran kelab tersebut, dekat sini, malam kelmarin.

Sementara itu, beliau menyifatkan Persidangan DUN yang lepas telah diadakan dengan jayanya biarpun dengan kehadiran lebih ramai pihak pembangkang.

“Semua orang menanti (DUN) dengan penuh minat kerana pihak pembangkang berkata, inilah masanya untuk mereka menghentam kita.

Walkout a publicity stunt — Karim

July 1, 2011

KUCHING: The ‘walkout’ by DAP assemblypersons on the final day of State Legislative Assembly (DUN) sitting on Wednesday is nothing but a publicity stunt.

According to the chairman of Barisan Nasional Backbenchers Club Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah, the opposition’s action was only meant to gain publicity.

All 12 DAP assemblypersons abruptly staged a walkout when Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Alfred Jabu delivered his winding-up speech.

Three other opposition members from Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) however stayed in the chamber.

The group, led by Wong Ho Leng (Bukit Assek) later told the media that they decided to leave the chamber when the minister refused to take any clarification from them.

At the Barisan Nasional Backbenchers Club dinner on Wednesday, Karim said: “The walkout by DAP is something they do to gain publicity…it is just a publicity stint (by DAP).

“With their action, you will see and read in the newspaper tomorrow (today),” Karim, who is Asajaya assemblyman pointed out.