Karim welcomes Rafizi’s idea of state-owned oil company

August 06, 2016

PETALING JAYA: A Sarawak Barisan Nasional leader has welcomed the idea for state government-owned petroleum companies to be formed in Sabah and Sarawak.

Sarawak Assistant Minister of Housing Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah told FMT he fully agreed with the proposal put forth by PKR lawmaker Rafizi Ramli for the Sabah and Sarawak state governments to form their own petroleum companies with assistance from Petronas.

Rafizi proposed the idea yesterday, saying it would help both the Borneo states better develop their respective petroleum industries while giving both state governments better control over the management of the companies.

“I fully support the formation of new entities by the Sarawak and Sabah state governments to carry out exploration activities within their respective territorial jurisdictions.

“This way, both states can have better control of state assets and resources,” Karim said, adding that the companies could either be existing companies like Sarawak Energy or entirely new entities.

Abdul Karim suspicious with motive

August 06, 2016

KUCHING: Sarawak Cycling Association (SCA) president Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah was baffled with the ongoing investigation by the Malaysia Anti Corruption Commission (MACC) on the SUKMA cycling venues.

He said he just couldn't dismiss the possibilities of some quarters were trying to project a negative image of the association or the State.

Abdul Karim, as quoted by a national English daily yesterday, said there had been a lot of nasty and unflattering remarks hurled against the association that had caused him to be suspicious on the current issue revolving around the organisation of SUKMA.

“Is this the work of disgruntled people who are unhappy because they were unable to get benefits from the association or are they just trying to tarnish the state’s image over our successful feat in organising this year’s Sukma?” he asked.

He, however, said SCA would cooperate with the MACC in its probe.

Meanwhile Sarawak MACC director Datuk Badrul Shah Norman had confirmed that the commission had questioned 6 persons, including the SCA secretary Zulaihi Seri, as to ascertain whether there was any element of corruption involved in the venues’ substandard facilities.

“This is true. We have recorded statements from six witnesses, including the (association) secretary, since Monday. 

Don’t insult Sarawak, PBB’s Karim tells Petronas

August 04, 2016

PETALING JAYA: “Don’t insult Sarawak.”

This was the curt message Sarawak Assistant Minister of Housing and PBB Supreme Council member, Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah had for the national oil-and-gas company in relation to the issue of hiring non-Sarawakians for vacancies in the state.

Speaking to FMT, Karim said priority for vacancies in Sarawak Petronas should be filled by Sarawakians and not those from outside the state.

He said this was not an absurd call as the vacancies in question were in the Sarawak branch of Petronas.

“If the vacancies are in Peninsular Malaysia, we in Sarawak cannot be bothered with who Petronas hires.

“Until and unless you cannot find an eligible Sarawakian, then you can look elsewhere,” he said, adding this was a practical approach.

Earlier today, it was reported that the Suarah Petroleum Group (SPG), a Sarawakian non-profit organisation had called on Petronas to give priority to locals when filling vacancies in the oil-and-gas company’s operations in the state.

Abdul Karim welcomes MACC probe on Sukma cycling events

August 4, 2016

KUCHING: Assistant Minister of Youth and Sports Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah welcomes the investigation carried out by the Malaysian Anti Corruption Commission (MACC) on misappropriation of funds for cycling events at the just concluded 18th Sukma here.

He said the investigation was carried out to find if there was any wrongdoing.

“An official statement will be forthcoming. MACC is doing their investigation in the event of any wrongdoing and I welcome that,” he told The Borneo Post when contacted yesterday.

He was asked to comment on the shocking revelation that MACC raided the homes of two cycling officials here on Monday where they seized documents related to the organisation of cycling events at Sukma.

A national daily reported that the raid was said to be part of an investigation following allegations that had gone viral on social media where the local cycling community posted pictures of shoddy

props including a haphazardly erected start-and-finish gantry with scaffolding poles at the track events and voiced their outrage over the poor organisation of the cycling events.

It was also reported that several Malaysian National Cycling Federation (MNCF) commissaries had made it known that the BMX track in Bukit Siol was not up to the required standard although constructed with an allocation of RM1 million from the state government.

Prestasi atlet Sarawak membanggakan

August 2, 2016

CEMERLANG: Abdul Karim (dua kanan) bersama pegawai-pegawai sukan dan atlet Sarawak meraikan kejayaan pada SUKMA XVIII.

Abdul Karim janji pasukan lebih mantap pada temasya akan datang dengan kemudahan baharu

KUCHING: Dengan kemudahan sukan baharu yang dibina untuk penganjuran Sukan Malaysia (SUKMA XVIII) di negeri ini, Ketua Kontijen Sarawak Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah menjanjikan pasukan yang lebih mantap pada temasya sukan itu masa akan datang.

Menteri Muda Belia dan Sukan itu menegaskan sebelum ini Sarawak sememangnya tidak mempunyai banyak kemudahan sukan yang berkualiti untuk melatih atlet-atletnya.

“Kita tidak mempunyai banyak kemudahan sukan yang baik dan kurang peluang untuk pendedahan atlet-atlet ke luar negara atau di Semenanjung Malaysia kerana kos tinggi berlainan dengan pasukan-pasukan negeri dari Semenanjung Malaysia yang dapat berhubung serta terlibat dalam apa-apa kejohanan dianjurkan dengan mudah.

“Namun, dalam kekurangan ini saya boleh katakan bahawa apa yang ditunjukkan atlet-atlet Sarawak pada SUKMA XVIII kali ini adalah cukup baik.

“Dengan kemudahan baharu dibina untuk SUKMA XVIII di sini, pasukan Sarawak dapat mengetengahkan pasukan lebih mantap untuk SUKMA akan datang,” katanya menerusi khidmat pesanan ringkas (SMS) kepada Utusan Borneo di sini semalam.

Pada masa sama, Abdul Karim turut berpuas hati dengan prestasi dan komitmen atlet-atlet Sarawak sepanjang temasya SUKMA XVIII kali ini.

“Nak kata saya gembira tidak juga kerana saya gagal meraih kejayaan keseluruhan untuk negeri Sarawak, tetapi secara keseluruhannya atlet-atlet Sarawak telah menunjukkan komitmen dan prestasi yang membanggakan, saya cukup berpuas hati dengan prestasi atlet-atlet Sarawak pada temasya SUKMA XVIII ini,” tambahnya.