Karim saman Chong?

November 17, 2011

KUCHING: Abdul Karim Rah­man Hamzah (BN-Asajaya) tidak teragak-agak untuk mengambil tindakan mahkamah sekiranya Chong Chieng Jen (DAP-Kota Sentosa) terus melemparkan tuduhan tidak berasas kepadan­ya.

Beliau menjelaskan, tanah mi­liknya yang berdekatan dengan ta­pak membangunkan sesuatu projek di kawasan Siol Kandis, Petra Jaya itu terletak di luar kawasan yang termaktub dalam Seksyen 47.

“Tanah itu terkecuali daripada Seksyen 47 kerana posisinya me­mang tidak terletak dalam kawasan yang termaktub, bukannya atas kedudukan saya (dalam kera­jaan).

“Saya tidak tahu bagaimana be­liau (Chong) sampaikan perkara itu kepada orang lain, tetapi sekiranya beliau keterlaluan, saya rasa saya perlu mengambil tindakan undang-undang mengenai perkara ini,” katanya ketika ditemui pemberita selepas Persidangan Dewan Undangan Negeri, di sini, semalam.

Abdul Karim memberitahu, beliau juga tidak pernah menge­luarkan sebarang arahan agar tanahnya dikecualikan daripada Seksyen 47.

Katanya, keluarganya juga memiliki beberapa bidang tanah di kawasan tersebut yang sudah di­gunakan kerajaan untuk membina jalan dan diberi pampasan.

Terdahulu, suasana Persidangan DUN sesi petang semalam sedikit kecoh apabila Chong memperso­alkan mengapa sebahagian kecil dari kawasan tanah yang dipercayai untuk dibangunkan bagi membina Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Siol Kandis, Petra Jaya dikecua­likan.

Social problems among youth being looked into

November 16, 2011

THE government is taking several measures to curb social problems among youths.

They include police patrol at hotspots and tourist areas to increase security.

“Public security monitoring is also being strengthened with the installation of CCTVs in spots prone to crime, particularly snatch thefts.

“Integrated operations and raids are also being conducted by the police from time to time,” said Youth Development assistant minister Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah in his reply to Ranum Mina (Opar) at the DUN sitting yesterday.

Karim to resign?

November 14, 2011

KUCHING: The Sarawak Barisan Nasional backbencher’s club chairman Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah will resign from his position today.

Karim, 51, having been appointed to assistant ministerial portfolios, including Housing and Youth Development, is no longer qualified to lead the group of non-ministers.

Karim said his replacement had been identified but declined to name the person.

“I believe he’s very capable,” Karim told reporters yesterday following a Barisan pre-State Legislative Assembly meeting at the PBB headquarters here.

“We’ll leave the announcement for tomorrow (today),” he said.

Pressed further, he said: “What can I say? Well, he is still new, but he should be capable enough to handle it. This is an important position in the Assembly.”

Asked what gave the replacement the upper hand against the other Barisan assemblymen, Karim said that various factors including academic qualifications and career achievements prior to his entering into politics were considered.

‘Healthy’ 2012 State Budget to be presented

November 14, 2011

“The most important thing is the new chairman has good academic and career background".

-Tuan Haji Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah 

KUCHING: The 2012 State Budget will be a ‘healthy’ one in relation to the global economy and development in Sarawak.

Chief Minister Pehin Sri Haji Abdul Taib Mahmud said the 2012 State Budget would be considered a safe and healthy budget that had been realistically planned to stimulate economic activities in Sarawak to sustain economic growth.

According to Taib, apart from outlining the efforts to intensify the state economy next year, the 2012 State Budget has also taken into account the present ‘dull’ global economic scenario.

“Although we (state government) know that the world economic situation is not ‘healthy’, we believe we will be able to get through this with success.

This is because the economies of China and India have shown positive growth.

“And with our position being located in Southeast Asia, I think there will be no problem for us to ensure that Sarawak economic growth will be on track,” said Taib, who is also Minister of Finance, to the media after chairing a precouncil meeting at Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) headquarters here yesterday.

The Chief Minister i s scheduled to table the 2012 State Budget during the second meeting of the 17th State Legislative Assembly (DUN) sitting, which starts today till 23 November.

DAP don't have any love for Bumiputeras -Karim

by Jocob Achoi

November 11, 2011, Friday

KUCHING: Opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim was just trying to cool the situation down when he said Pakatan Rakyat (PR) had scrapped its intention to reduce the number of civil servants if it ruled the country.

Assistant Minister of Youth Development and Assistant Minister of Housing Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah said civil servants were very angry with the proposal by DAP publicity secretary Tony Pua, and Anwar was just trying to cool them down.

“When he (Anwar) disagreed with the proposal, it is just to cool down the anger of the civil servants towards DAP and PR,” Abdul Karim said when contacted yesterday.

He was asked on Anwar’s online comment on Tuesday that PR had scrapped the proposal to reduce the number of the 1.2 million civil servants if it wins the general election, as earlier proposed by Pua.

Abdul Karim, who is chief political secretary to the Chief Minister, said DAP’s contention to reduce  the number of civil servants was an insult to all civil servants, be they at the federal or state levels.

The proposal, Abdul Karim said, also reflected how ignorant DAP was about the role of the civil servants in transforming the country to become vibrant.

“Bumiputeras in the civil service should be able to see DAP’s real agenda. They just don’t have any love for the Bumiputeras,” the Asajaya assemblyman said.