Karim: Review needed to lessen load of guarantors

November 6, 2013

KUCHING: Greater efforts must be made to lessen the load of guarantors including changing and review existing laws.

Assistant Minister of Youth Development Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah said this is because guarantors made up a large number of those declared bankrupt.

He said being bankrupt at an early age could be a traumatic experience, especially if it is due to being a guarantor.

“It’s just like a ‘death penalty’ imposed on an innocent party. The public, whether they are young or old, should be made aware of the implications and dangers of being a guarantor to any facility given by a financial institution be it a personal loan or a loan for a car or a house.

“In the event of the principal borrower defaulting, the guarantors are jointly and severally liable in law to pay,” he told The Borneo Post when contacted yesterday.

He was commenting on a recent revelation by Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Nancy Shukri that 13,540 people were declared bankrupt due to their failure to repay hire purchase and business loans from January to September this year in Sarawak.

She said as a whole, many youths in the state aged between 35 and 44 were declared bankrupt due to credit card debts, vehicle hire purchase and housing loans.

 

Bumiputera beli rumah kos sederhana, rendah

November 6, 2013

KUCHING: Bumiputera di Sarawak lebih cenderung membeli rumah kos sederhana dan rendah, kata Menteri Muda Perumahan Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah.

Beliau berkata kebanyakan rumah kos sederhana dan rendah yang terdapat di negeri ini dibeli oleh Bumiputera.

Bagaimanapun menurutnya, mungkin Bumiputera di Sarawak masih kurang membeli rumah mewah yang mencecah jutaan ringgit.

“Rumah berharga RM20,000 atau RM1 juta tidak menjadi persoalan, yang penting Bumiputera di Sarawak mampu membeli rumah.

“Kita boleh lihat ramai Bumiputera di negeri ini membeli rumah kos rendah dan sederhana,” katanya ketika dihubungi semalam.

Beliau berkata demikian ketika diminta mengulas mengenai kenyataan Timbalan Perdana Menteri Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin berhubung jumlah Bumiputera memiliki rumah masih rendah.

Muhyiddin dipetik sebagai berkata, jumlah pembelian perumahan oleh Bumiputera masih rendah iaitu sebanyak 36.3 peratus atau RM18 bilion pada 2012.

Karim's suggestions on Mat Rempit issue

November 4, 2013

SIBU: Good upbringing is more effective than blaming and penalising youths for misdemeanor like Mat Rempit, Assistant Minister of Youth Development and Asajaya assemblyman Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah pointed out.

He called for all parties to put on their thinking caps to address problems from a bigger spectrum.

“Moulding youths into good citizens is the responsibility of everyone, parents, schools, the community, NGOs and the government.

“Blaming and penalising youths for the things they do will not resolve the problem. Pointing fingers at parents or police also does not help,” he said.

Abdul Karim was asked how to prevent youths from getting drawn into Mat Rempit activities.

According to a news report, Kuching division Resident Abang Shamsuddin Abang Seruji viewed with concern that the Mat Rempit problem was getting prevalent in the city.

Abang Shamsuddin said more healthy activities were needed to engage youths.

  

Asajaya a pool for sport champs

November 4, 2013

KUCHING: Assistant Minister of Youth Development, Datuk Haji Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah believed that Asajaya district can become a pool for sport champions who not only will bring pride to Sarawak but also to the nation.

His observation was based on the presence of youths from the village who excelled in sports at the school level.

“We are aware that Asajaya district is popular among the local community in football during the Raya season with the venue held at Kampung Sambir, Asajaya,” he said.

“Now many of the young people who hail from the village have achieved recognition for their involvement at higher level sports throughout the year,” he added during the Students Excellence Award 2013 ceremony at Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan (SMK) Asajaya No.2 yesterday.

Among the students who shined out in sports was Mohd Shahril Rahim Khalid who won the Special Sport Award for representing SMK Asajaya No.2 and helped the school to become runners up in the CIMB-Cobra-KRFC School 7s Rugby Under 18 Championship 2013 recently.

“Mohd Shahril do possess the talent to reach greater heights in sport as shown by his form at the Malaysian Schools Sports Council (MSSM) championship this yeari,” said Abdul Karim who also praised other excellent athletes from the school.

Testimony of state’s religious harmony

 November 2, 2013

BE PROUD: Abdul Karim urging young Sarawakians to be proud of the cohesion and harmony that have been long existing in the state

KUCHING: The Soul2Soul 2.0 interfaith forum entitled “Tweeting Up Unity: Social Cohesion Through Social Media” at the Christian Ecumenical Worship Centre here yesterday is a shining example of the state’s religious harmony.

This was said by Youth Development assistant minister Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah when officiating at the opening of the forum organised by Azam and Islamic Information Centre (IIC), yesterday.

He added the choice of a Christian centre for the venue bore testimony to the state’s religious tolerance and the unique harmony among the people.

“I don’t think it would be possible to do this in the peninsula without some people inciting tension,” said Abdul Karim, who pointed out that the racial and religious tension prevalent in the peninsula had never been an issue in Sarawak.

“In Sarawak we help one another, regardless of race or religion. In the old days, I attended mission school and went to church as part of the education system, but it did not make me any less of a Muslim. In fact, the old system made us more understanding and tolerant of each other.

“It was a beautiful in the past. I hope the youths today will learn and do not be too engrossed with what politicians or NGOs say nowadays. Young Sarawakians should be proud of the cohesion that is only unique in Sarawak,” he

Touching on the forum, Abdul Karim called on social media savvy youths to use the various tools in the internet to enhance the existing social cohesion among Sarawakians to create greater understanding and strengthen unity.