Kerajaan negeri berhak halang Nurul Izzah masuki Sarawak

December 8, 2015 

KUCHING: Kerajaan negeri mempunyai sebab menghalang Naib Presiden Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) Nurul Izzah Anwar memasuki Sarawak.

Ahli Majlis Tertinggi Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah berkata Sarawak mempunyai kuasa untuk menyekat kemasukan Ahli Parlimen Lembah Pantai itu ke negeri ini memandang hak imigresen adalah hak negeri.

“Nurul telah dilihat membuat ‘hubungan’ dengan anak Kiram, juga menjadi jurucakap penjenayah yang telah menyerang Lahad Datu Sabah kira-kira dua tahun lalu (2013).

“Mungkin Nurul, Dr Xavier Jayakumar (naib presiden PKR) atau PKR menganggap ia (serangan Lahad Datu) perkara remeh tetapi kedaulatan negara telah diancam oleh kumpulan Kiram ini,” ujarnya ketika dihubungi semalam.

Karim yang juga Menteri Muda Pembangunan Belia berkata sebagai Ahli Parlimen dan warganegara Malaysia, Nurul harus tahu tindakannya itu adalah salah.

“Nurul telah mengangkat sumpah taat setia kepada Malaysia apabila menjadi Ahli Parlimen, sepatutnya tahu bahawa ‘berhubung’ dengan musuh negara adalah perkara yang salah.

“Selagi beliau (Nurul) tidak menjelaskan kedudukannya kepada negeri Sarawak, saya menyokong tindakan kerajaan negeri menegahnya memasuki Sarawak” tegasnya.

‘Carnival to engage with 30,000 youths to transform them through quality activities’

December 5, 2015

SIBU: The Youth Transformation Carnival is one of the platforms for the government to reach out to engage youths, Assistant Youth Minister Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah said yesterday.

The carnival themed ‘From Youth for Youth’ involves 30,000 youths across the divisions and districts. It’s held during the school holidays to get youths to be involved in quality activities.

“Many health programmes and activities have been lined up to connect with the younger generation. It is our hope to develop youths to be better citizens and get them to interact with each other,” Abdul Karim said when asked about the two-day Sibu division Youth Transformation Carnival which begins today.

This programme initiated by Ministry of Social Development (KPS) involved all relevant agencies, whether state or federal.

“It will be held in all divisions in Sarawak,” said Abdul Karim who is Asajaya assemblyman. The programme includes briefing and workshops, exhibitions, sporting activities, performance, talent show and appreciation ceremony.

Promote awareness on danger of drinking alcohol — Abdul Karim

December 4, 2015

KUCHING: The government should put more efforts in creating awareness of the danger of excessive alcohol consumption instead of imposing age limit on it.

Assistant Minister of Youth Development Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah said this was because the public had seen many accidents and social problems related to excessive consumption of alcohol.

“The government must find ways to educate the public against consuming this stuff (alcohol). It’s not just about putting an age limit and taking pride in it but more on creating awareness of the danger of excessive drinking of alcohol which is bad to one’s health.

“Instead of putting an age limit, the government should come up with measures on how to totally have an alcohol consumption free society,” he said when asked to comment yesterday on a news report that Malaysia, in its filing to the World Trade Organisation (WTO), planned to raise the minimum age for alcohol consumption from 18 to 21.

The Assistant Minister of Housing also said Malaysia, being a multi-racial and multi-religious country, should show the world that it can go forward and be progressive in business and trade despite being an Islamic nation without curtailing the rights of non-Muslims to do business, including brewing of alcohol.

It was reported by AFP that Malaysia, in its filing to WTO on Tuesday, aimed to prevent underage drinking and limit the accessibility of alcohol to high risk groups, though there was no mention on when the change would take place.

In addition to this, Malaysia also plans additional labelling requirements for alcohol products to warn about their effect on health.

Finally 82 seats up for grabs

December 04, 2015

KUCHING: Finally, the path is now all cleared for Sarawak to have 82 seats for contest in the forthcoming state election with the endorsement of 11 new seats by parliament, Asajaya Assemblyman Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah said.

Karim, who is also Assistant Minister of Youth Development (Urban) and Assistant Minister of Housing criticised the opposition parties for alleging in their debates on the motion in parliament that the redelineation was to help BN's hold on to power.

"Little do they know that this delineation will give the small minority races in Sarawak a voice in the DUN. The Orang Ulu, Bidayuh will have more voices as some of the new seats are in areas where this minority are sited.

"Opposition being opposition will only run down whatever good things that the Government will try to do," Karim explained in a text message received yesterday when asked for his comment on the latest endorsement and approval of the eleven new seats by parliament on Tuesday.

The motion on the redelineation of parliamentary and state constituencies in Sarawak was carried on Tuesday through block voting, with 130 MPs supporting and 72 opposing.

The newly approved state seats are N13 Batu Kitang, N17 Stakan, N18 Serembu, N23 Bukit Semuja, N26 Gedong, N40 Kabong, N57 Tellian, N63 Bukit Goram, N66 Murum, N70 Samalaju and N78 Mulu.

The Sarawak Legislative Assembly approved the relevant legislation on the increase in the number of state constituencies from 71 to 82 effective 5 Dec last year.

Bring back public confidence, Abdul Karim tells police

December 2, 2015

KUCHING: The police have to do their part in bringing back public confidence that the country is governed by the rule of law, in view of the two assault cases that happened in the state recently.

Assistant Minister of Youth Development Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah gave this view when commenting on the assault case involving Tuai Rumah Jambai from Bekelit in Bekenu and public assault of two youths at a mall here on Sunday.

“I congratulate the swift action taken by the police in apprehending the suspects in the assault case in Miri and the one at a shopping complex in Kuching. I have to admit that the public are alarmed by what is happening and thanks to social media for bringing this matter to the open.

“The police have to do their part in bringing back public confidence that the country is governed by the rule of law and not law of the jungle. We cannot let thugs and hooligans rule the street and create an atmosphere of fear to the public,” Abdul Karim told The Borneo Post yesterday.

On the assault case in a shopping mall, Abdul Karim said state Police Commissioner Datuk Seri Muhammad Sabtu Osman should not brush aside the incident as an isolated case and not a case involving criminal gangs.

“He should instead make sure that the long arm of the law will reach out to all offenders wherever they are. Do not let the public lose hope on law enforcement agencies.”

Sabtu had told reporters yesterday that the public assault here on Sunday was an ‘isolated case’ which was not in any way linked to gangsterism.