Latest news with #Karim
Yahoo
3 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Pakistani drug dealer can stay in UK ‘to teach son about Islam'
A Pakistani drug dealer has been allowed to remain in the UK because of his role in talking to his son about Islam and his culture. The Home Office ordered the deportation of Muhammad Asif Karim, 43, after he amassed seven convictions for a total of 21 offences, including supplying the class A drugs heroin and cocaine, for which he served a four-year jail sentence. He won his appeal against his removal after arguing that it would breach his rights to a family life under Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR). An upper tribunal accepted it would be 'unduly harsh' on his son if he was to be deported to Pakistan, even though his child was being 'largely brought up by his white British mother'. The son gave evidence to the immigration court that his father 'is able to talk to him about Islam, about Pakistani culture and his own upbringing'. The case, disclosed in court papers, is the latest example uncovered by The Telegraph in which illegal migrants or convicted foreign criminals have been able to remain in the UK or halt their deportations on human rights grounds. Yvette Cooper, the Home Secretary, has announced plans to curb judges' powers to block deportations with new legally enforced 'common sense' rules to clarify how judges interpret Article 8 of the ECHR, and to strengthen the public interest test. Karim came to the UK on a visitor's visa in 1988 at the age of seven and never went home. After his prison sentence for drug dealing, he avoided deportation by becoming a witness in a murder trial. However, he was thrown off a witness protection programme after continuing to offend. Even though the Home Office issued the deportation order against him in 2015, it was not until 2023 that his appeal against his removal was considered by a first-tier tribunal. It backed his claim on Article 8 grounds, but the Home Office appealed against that decision. The upper tribunal heard that he had avoided criminality for a decade, enjoyed a 'parental relationship' with his son and had lived in the UK for 26 years, amounting to most of his life. After being told about his talks with his son, the tribunal accepted that these were 'matters fundamental' to the boy's identity. The Home Office argued that this was 'conjecture', with no independent corroboration from a social worker or psychologist. The upper tribunal was 'satisfied' that the lower court was entitled to 'place weight' on the boy's evidence. 'We do not think it controversial to suggest that such matters would have significance for this child, who is himself of Pakistani origin, but is being largely brought up by his white British mother,' it said. The tribunal also noted that the boy's mother felt that Karim had a 'positive impact' on the child. It said he 'could talk to his son about studying and job choices, he could teach him to shave and talk to him about things a mother could not'. It therefore accepted that it would be 'unduly harsh' to deport Karim, and rejected the Home Office appeal. 'Although there is a particularly strong public interest in removing someone who habitually committed crimes over a 14-year period, his last offence was committed over 10 years ago and he has complied with all probation and rehabilitation requirements, as well as the reporting conditions imposed on him by the Home Office,' it said. 'He has throughout the relevant period suffered from significant and debilitating mental ill-health, and although this was not a factor that the first-tier tribunal thought significant, it is right to note that there has been an inordinate delay – over 10 years – on the part of the Secretary of State in effecting this deportation. 'There was also evidence that he was himself a survivor of violence, trauma and criminality, all of which had played a role in his troubled youth.' Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
New Straits Times
5 days ago
- General
- New Straits Times
Headhunter's parang among artefacts donated to Sarawak Museum
KUCHING: A century-old parang, reportedly snatched by a Tebakang man from headhunters, has been donated to the Sarawak Museum Department as a historical artefact. Tebakang, a small town some 55km from here and close to the Sarawak-Kalimantan border, is of historical significance as one of the early settlement areas for the Bidayuh people. During the Brooke era, Tebakang served as a fortified outpost. Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Minister Datuk Seri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah, in narrating the story of the ancient parang in the state legislative assembly today, said the donor, Mangu Bueng, claimed the blade had been with his family for almost 100 years. He said Mangu claimed that the parang originally belonged to a group of headhunters who confronted a member of the family and his wife in the early 1900s. In the ensuing fight, he snatched the parang from his attackers. He brought the parang back home to Kampung Tebakang Bidayuh, where it became a treasured family heirloom. The parang has since remained with his family, being passed down through the generations, before it was donated to the Sarawak Museum. The museum is the guardian of Sarawak and Borneo's shared heritage. The parang was one of five artefacts donated to the museum recently, Karim said. He said the museum also received two Lun Bawang sunhats from the Lavery family in the United Kingdom. John Lavery, the son of Bill and Pam Lavery, who brought the sunhats to the UK, donated them to the Sarawak Museum for safekeeping. The authentic sunhats were obtained during the formation of Malaysia in 1963, when Bill Lavery was posted to a school in Limbang that same year as a teacher. He later served as headmaster in the school under the Colombo Plan of External Aid of the Canadian government to Sarawak. The Laverys left Sarawak in 1965, taking the sunhats as souvenirs. Karim said the museum has also received donations of two unglazed ceramic vases that were fished from the sea off Santubong. The donor, Mohd Rizal Bujang, claimed the pottery was discovered in the 1970s by his late father Bujang Abdullah together with his friends, Ibni Zen and Othman Zen, while fishing off the fishing village on the mouth of Sungai Sarawak, Karim told the state assembly. Santubong was once an important trading port between the 7th and 13th centuries CE. This period corresponds to the time of early regional trade networks in Southeast Asia linking the Malay Archipelago, India and China. Chinese ceramics from the Tang and Song dynasties were among the archaeological finds in Santubong. Karim also told the assembly that the Sarawak Museum Department, exercising its powers under the Sarawak Heritage Ordinance (SHO) 2019, on Feb 12 had gazetted 14 historical sites, buildings, monuments and underwater heritage. The gazetted sites, buildings, monuments and underwater heritage are: Rumah Panjang Melanau Kampong Sok in Matu; Rumah Sri Tanjung, a former government rest house at Tanjung Lobang in Miri; Sacred Heart Church at Sungai Bawan in Kanowit; Makam Dato Permaisuri in Miri; Pusara Ali Wallace, Kampung Jaie, Sadong Jaya; Kubur Shariff Skrang, Kampung Igan, Matu; Tapak Masjid Bandaraya Kuching; the Beting Maro battle ground; Lombong Arang Batu (coal quarry) Brooke at Gunung Ngeli in Simunjan; Batu Ritong in Pa' Lungan, Bario; the site of a skirmish between the army and communist terrorists at Kampung Jangkar, Lundu; Tuang Schist in Semeba, Kuching; Folded Schist Demak, Kuching; and a Japanese landing craft at Brighton Beach in Miri.
New Straits Times
5 days ago
- Sport
- New Straits Times
Borneo Games set for return in September with Sarawak as host
KUCHING: The revived Borneo Games is set to return from Sept 24 to 28 this year, with Sarawak playing host. Sarawak Youth, Sports and Entrepreneur Development Minister Datuk Seri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah said the games were last held in 2013 in Labuan. He said Brunei, East Kalimantan, West Kalimantan, Sabah, Labuan and Sarawak will participate in the games. "The games feature over 1,000 athletes and officials in mainstream sports such as athletics, swimming, lawn bowls, archery and badminton, alongside traditional events like menyumpit (blowpipe) and tug-of-war," he said. Karim said this when winding up his ministry's speech at the Sarawak legislative assembly here. He said the games will celebrate Borneo's diverse heritage while fostering deeper connections among its people. He said the first games was hosted by the Seria Recreation Club, Brunei, in 1954. Karim said the games were revived at the suggestion of Premier Tan Sri Abang Johari Openg, whose vision was to unite the Bornean people through shared values. He said Abang Johari wanted to foster peace and prosperity, enhance cross-border relationships and empower youth to lead with cultural pride and confidence. Karim said his ministry, together with the Sarawak Sports Corporation (SSC), will ensure the games serve as a vibrant platform for both athletic excellence and cultural celebration. He said Sarawak has initiated the formation of the Borneo Games Supreme Council which will comprise sports ministers and relevant agencies from participating nations, states and provinces, togovern future editions. He said his ministry has extended official invitations to the participating regions and provinces, sports associations and implementation bodies, to attend a meeting to form the council. Karim also said the federal government has formally agreed for Sarawak to host the opening ceremony of the Sea Games 2027 in Kuching. He said that this was the first time in Sea Games history that Sarawak will serve as a direct host region, an honour that offers an opportunity to showcase Sarawak's cultural vibrancy, hospitality and logistical capabilities to a global audience. He said his ministry is planning a strategic benchmarking visit to Thailand, the host of the Sea Games in 2025, to observe and study the live operations of a major sporting event. "The knowledge gained will help us refine our strategies for 2027," he said.
The Star
5 days ago
- General
- The Star
Lun Bawang sun hats among five artefacts donated to Sarawak Museum
The 1960s Lun Bawang sun hats recently donated to the Sarawak Museum. KUCHING: Two Lun Bawang sun hats from the 1960s have been donated to the Sarawak Museum Department from a family posted to Sarawak under the Colombo Plan. State Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Minister Datuk Seri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah said the sun hats were obtained by Bill and Pam Lavery during the formation of Malaysia in 1963. "Bill Lavery was posted to Limbang that same year as a teacher and later served as headmaster under the Colombo Plan of external aid of the Canadian government to Sarawak. "The Lavery family left Sarawak in 1965. The hats were later passed on to their son, John Lavery, who entrusted them to the Sarawak Museum for safekeeping," he told the Sarawak Legislative Assembly in his winding-up speech on Tuesday (May 27). The Colombo Plan was established in 1951 following a meeting of Commonwealth foreign ministers in Colombo, Sri Lanka, to assist in socioeconomic development in South and South-East Asia. The 1960s Lun Bawang sun hats recently donated to the Sarawak Museum. The sun hats were among five artefacts recently donated to the Sarawak Museum, Karim said. He said an old parang was received from the descendants of Mangu Bueng of Tebakang, Serian, who said it had been in his family for almost 100 years. "The donor said the parang originally belonged to a group of headhunters who confronted Bueng and his wife in the early 1900s. "In the ensuing fight, Bueng fought bravely and took one of their parang. He brought it back to Kampung Tebakang Bidayuh, where it became a treasured family heirloom," he said. In addition, two unglazed ceramic vases from Santubong were received from Mohd Rizal Bujang. "According to the donor, the pottery was discovered in the 1970s by his late father Bujang Abdullah, together with the late Ibni Zen and the late Othman Zen, while fishing off the coast of Santubong," Karim said. Extending his gratitude to the donors, he hoped their generosity would inspire others to contribute historical artefacts to the Sarawak Museum. "This will ensure that future generations can appreciate our rich heritage," he added.
The Star
5 days ago
- Business
- The Star
S'wak on course to hit five million tourist arrival target, state assembly told
State Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Minister Datuk Seri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah delivering his winding-up speech at the Sarawak Legislative Assembly on Tuesday (May 27). KUCHING: Sarawak is on track to achieve its target of five million visitor arrivals this year after receiving encouraging numbers in the first four months, the state legislative assembly was told. State Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Minister Datuk Seri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah said more than 1.6 million arrivals were recorded from January to April, generating tourism receipts totalling RM4.07bil. ALSO READ: Sarawak exceeds 2024 tourist arrival target by 20%, rakes in RM12.45bil ( He said the state was expected to generate RM12.73bil in tourism receipts this year, an increase over RM12.45bil from 4.83 million visitors last year. "Asean is our key tourism market, with Brunei Darussalam contributing the largest share of visitor arrivals to Sarawak in 2024, accounting for 39.1% or 1.89 million visitors, followed by Indonesia with 13.5% or 653,883 visitors. ALSO READ: S'wak planning more events to hit 2025 target of five million visitors ( "Singapore and the Philippines contributed 1.2% (59,793) and 1% (46,853), respectively. "Meanwhile, China became a significant contributor with 1.5% or 74,721 visitors," Karim said when winding up matters related to his ministry on Tuesday (May 27). He said Sarawak continued to receive large numbers of visitors from Brunei and Indonesia from January to April this year with 514,015 and 236,054 respectively. China (24,865), Singapore (18,637) and the Philippines (14,482) remained among the top five contributors, he added. ALSO READ: MASwings buy to be completed end-2025, says Sarawak Deputy Transport Minister ( Looking ahead, Karim said the introduction of Sarawak's own airline, AirBorneo, and the proposed new Kuching International Airport would increase visitor arrivals and take the tourism industry to new heights. He said AirBorneo would allow Sarawak to plan its destinations of choice in line with market demand without relying on other commercial airlines. "I believe, through potential strategic partnerships with other established airlines in the near future, AirBorneo will be able to secure air connectivity to major tourism hubs in the world and expand Sarawak's market," he added. Sarawak's acquisition of MASwings Sdn Bhd to become AirBorneo is expected to be completed by the end of this year. The state government signed a share purchase agreement with MASwings' parent company Malaysia Aviation Group on Feb 12, with the legal and beneficial ownership expected to be transferred to AirBorneo Holdings Sdn Bhd by Dec 31.
