STAR dan PBDSB sekadar meraih populariti di PRK Tanjong Datu

February 08, 2017

KUCHING: Penyertaan STAR dan PBDSB di pilihanraya kecil (PRK) DUN Tanjong Datu hanya sekadar meraih populariti, kata Ahli Majlis Tertinggi PBB Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah semalam.

"Kalau dilihat latar belakang calon terbabit, mereka pernah bertanding pada pilihanraya di DUN lain ... mungkin mereka mahukan publisiti.

"Mereka sebenarnya tidak tahu arah perjuangan, justeru pengundi di Tanjong Datu diharapkan tidak termakan hasutan dan dakyah kedua-dua calon pembangkan itu," kata Abdul Karim kepada Harian Metro.

Menurutnya kehadiran calon parti itu boleh dikatakan calon tangkat muat kerana mereka tidak dikenali penduduk di Tanjong Dato.

"Bagaimanapun, kita akur dengan keputusan mereka dalam mengamalkan sistem demokrasi di negara ini," katanya lagi.

Abdul Karim chides opposition candidates in Tanjong Datu by-election

February 6, 2017

KUCHING: PBB Supreme Council member Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah is not pleased with candidates from State Reform Party Sarawak (STAR) and Parti Bansa Dayak Sarawak Baru (PBDS Baru) contesting in the Tanjong Datu by-election.

Among others, STAR candidate Johnny Aput’s manifesto focuses on the autonomy of Sarawak based on the Malaysia Agreement 1963 which he claimed the late Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Adenan Satem was too slow to pursue.

PBDS Baru candidate Rapelson Richard Hamit, on the other hand, said his main area of contention is the recognition of ‘pemakai menoa’ and ‘pulau galau’, which was ruled by the Federal Court recently as having no force of law.

Abdul Karim, without mincing his words, said Johnny probably thought he had an ‘Alladin Lamp’ that could expedite the state’s quest for greater autonomy.

“He better be ‘down to earth’ than to live in his own dreamland. Even if he wins the seat, which is near impossible, his sole voice will not even be heard by Kuala Lumpur. He can’t even open the doors of Putrajaya.

Sarawak to court East Asia squash

February 3, 2017

Karim (fifth left) holding the squash championship schedule and with him are Dr Ong (fourth left), Sivanesen (third right), Emmanuel (second right) and others at a photocall held at the meeting room of Stadium Negeri Sarawak. — Photo by Wilfred Pilo

KUCHING: Sarawak will host the 3rd South East Asia Squash Championshipship 2017 at the squash courts from Feb 14-18, in a big leg-up for sports tourism as the state has been chosen as venue for yet another hallmark sport event.

Assistant Minister of Youth And Sports Sarawak Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah said that this will be the first time the prestigious event is being held in Malaysia and Sarawak was given the honour to become the host.

“The first event was hosted by Singapore in 2015 and they won the championship and in 2016 it was held in Myanmar and Malaysia won,” he said at the press conference on the championship held at Stadium Negeri Sarawak, here yesterday.

‘Need to educate students on danger of drug abuse’

February 3, 2017

Abdul Karim (right) and Fatimah (second right) during the visit. Sharifah Hasidah is seated at second left.

KUCHING: The number of drug and substance abuse cases involving students is low but the problem must nevertheless be nipped in the bud before it becomes serious.

Chairman of Malaysian Drug Prevention Association (Pemadam) Sarawak Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah said there was the need to reach out further to educate students and youngsters on the danger of drugs.

“However, we have yet to move beyond Kuching and Samarahan due to budget constraints. We are aware that there are such cases in Bintulu, Limbang, Lawas, Pusa and Beladin,” he said.

Abdul Karim, who is also Assistant Minister for Housing, said this during a courtesy call on Minister of Welfare, Women and Community Wellbeing Datuk Fatimah Abdullah at her office here yesterday.

He said most of the incidents in schools were related to substance abuse such as sniffing glue and misusing prescription drugs like Nospan (common drug used for the treatment of cough, cold and other respiratory tract disorders).

‘Jamilah perfect candidate for Tanjong Datu’

February 2, 2017

KUCHING: A PBB supreme council member Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah says Datin Patinggi Datuk Amar Jamilah Anu is the perfect candidate for Tanjong Datu.

Abdul Karim, who is Asajaya assemblyman, said Jamilah was the pillar behind the late Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Adenan Satem and she herself was very passionate and committed in whatever task she did.

“Therefore, playing the role of an elected representative, in the event she wins (in the coming by-election) will fit her well,” he said in a press statement received here yesterday.

According to Abdul Karim, Jamilah had been involved in community and charitable works ever since Adenan was the elected the people’s representative of Muara Tuang way back in the late 1970s, 1980s and 1990s.

“She continued that (her works) in Tanjong Datu when Tok Nan moved there and I don’t think anybody in Tanjong Datu doesn’t know or not recognises her,” he said.