Latest news with #SarawakYouth
The Sun
7 days ago
- Health
- The Sun
Government urged to ban drug-laced vape products in Malaysia
KUCHING: The federal government has been urged to introduce strict laws prohibiting vape products laced with illegal substances like synthetic drugs. Sarawak Youth, Sports and Entrepreneur Development Minister Datuk Seri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah highlighted the growing misuse of vape, particularly among young people, as a serious public health issue. 'Vape was initially promoted as a safer alternative to smoking, but it has now been exploited for drug abuse and addiction,' he said. Abdul Karim, who also leads the Sarawak chapter of the Malaysian Drug Prevention Association (Pemadam), stressed the need for urgent legal action following a State Drug Eradication Action Council (MTMD) meeting. He suggested that authorities consider either a complete ban on vape or restrict it to nicotine-based products, similar to regulated tobacco items. 'A blanket ban may not be practical since some users consume vape responsibly. However, if it involves illegal substances like 'magic mushrooms' or synthetic drugs, strict laws must be enforced,' he added. The 2022 National Health and Morbidity Survey (NHMS) revealed that Sarawak has the highest vape usage rate among Malaysian teens aged 13 to 17, with 20.3% prevalence, affecting an estimated 39,608 individuals. - Bernama
The Star
04-07-2025
- Sport
- The Star
Revived Borneo Games set for Sept 24-28
KUCHING: The revived Borneo Games will take place here in September with participation from six states, territories and provinces. Sarawak Youth, Sports and Entrepreneur Development Minister Datuk Seri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah said the Games aimed to strengthen relations between neighbouring states on Borneo, besides promoting sports and tourism. "Through sports, arts and culture, we can develop closer ties to one another," he told a press conference after chairing a coordination meeting on the Games here on Friday (July 4). Karim said athletes from Sarawak, Sabah, Labuan, Brunei, East Kalimantan and West Kalimantan will take part in eight sports during the Games from Sept 24 to 28. These include badminton, lawn bowls, athletics, archery and swimming, as well as the traditional events of blowpipe shooting and tug-of-war. ALSO READ: Sarawak aims to host revived Borneo Games in second half of 2025, says state minister ( "There will also be a VIP golf event which is non-competitive, with no medals to be awarded," he added. A total of 124 gold medals will be up for grabs, although Karim said this might be increased following a proposal for two more to be added to blowpipe shooting. He said the Games were open to all athletes from the participating states and provinces, except Olympians. Registration for participation will open in the middle of this month and close on Aug 29. Karim said there were also plans to invite entrepreneurs to set up stalls during the Games. "There will be a Borneo Kitchen and an arts and crafts exhibition involving the various participating states and provinces. "This will be an opportunity for entrepreneurs to sell their products and network with one another," he said. The Borneo Games were first held in 1955 and last took place in Labuan in 2013. Last year, Sarawak Premier Tan Sri Abang Johari Openg proposed bringing back the Games. Karim also said there were plans for the Games to be held every two years after this. He said it could be extended to other states outside Borneo by invitation in the future. "Three states from Peninsular Malaysia have indicated their interest in participating. "We can even extend it to Australia's Northern Territory because Sarawak has participated in the Arafura Games there," he added.
Borneo Post
18-06-2025
- Business
- Borneo Post
Abd Karim: Youth must be architects of our shared future
Abdul Karim (fifth left), flanked by his deputies, joins other officials for a photo session at the Hikmah Exchange Event Centre. KUCHING (June 18): The Rainforest Youth Summit (RAYS) is more than just a platform for dialogue – it is a movement for co-creation and change, aimed at empowering young people to take ownership of their future, said Sarawak Youth, Sports and Entrepreneur Development Minister, Dato Sri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah. Speaking at the summit's opening ceremony held at the Hikmah Exchange Event Centre today, he emphasised that Sarawak's role as host extended beyond logistics and hospitality. 'This platform is designed so that youths will not merely be participants, but active architects of our shared future,' he said. 'We are committed to ensuring the outcomes of this summit influence real policy decisions and spur community-driven action,' he added. Now in its second year, RAYS has convened more than 20 speakers from 13 countries, offering a vibrant space for youth to share diverse perspectives on sustainability, indigenous knowledge, climate action, and youth advocacy. Abdul Karim, who is also State Tourism, Creative Industry, and Performing Arts Minister, praised the Sarawak Tourism Board for its leadership in organising the summit and expressed gratitude to all collaborators, volunteers, and partners. He noted that the summit aligns with the state's Post Covid-19 Development Strategy (PCDS) 2030, which seeks to drive inclusive economic growth while prioritising environmental sustainability and social equity. Absul Karim also highlighted Sarawak's ongoing efforts in environmental conservation and innovation, including investments in renewable energy, development of biodiversity corridors, and the pursuit of United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organisation (Unesco) recognition for Sarawak Delta Geopark. 'Here in Sarawak, we are proud to lead by example. Our policies and programmes demonstrate that sustainability and cultural preservation are central to development,' he said. He added that RAYS supports Sarawak's alignment with global frameworks such as the Paris Agreement and Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) regional strategies, by ensuring youth voices are represented in climate and policy dialogues. Urging participants to bring back the insights gained at RAYS to their communities, Abdul Karim stressed the importance of continued engagement. 'We want our youth – whether from Sarawak, Malaysia, or across Asean – to shape, lead, and curate the future they wish to inherit. 'Through platforms like RAYS, we ensure their voices are not only heard but are part of the policymaking process,' he said. He concluded by inviting delegates to experience Sarawak's rich heritage and culinary traditions, reminding them that Kuching has been recognised by Unesco as both a 'Creative City of Gastronomy' and a 'World City of Crafts'. Also present were Deputy State Tourism, Creative Industry, and Performing Arts Ministers Datuk Sebastian Ting and Datuk Snowdan Lawan, as well as Deputy State Youth, Sports and Entrepreneur Development Ministers Datuk Dr Ripin Lamat and Dato Gerald Rentap Jabu. Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah Rainforest Youth Summit RAYS youth
The Star
03-06-2025
- Lifestyle
- The Star
Kuching marathon to showcase capital's colonial and cultural charm
THE 10th edition of the Kuching Marathon (KM2025), scheduled for Sept 21, will offer participants an illuminating journey through Kuching's rich cultural and colonial heritage. Sarawak Youth, Sports and Enterpreneur Development Minister Datuk Seri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah said KM2025 aims to strengthen Kuching's presence on the world map by promoting the city as a hub for sports, recreation and tourism, while fostering a healthy lifestyle. 'Among the highlights of this year's edition is the improved 42km full marathon race route, offering runners a more scenic course. 'For the first time, all participants who complete their race within the cut-off time, including those in the 10km and 5km categories, will receive a finisher's T-shirt. 'This is in addition to the event T-shirt and a specially designed finisher's medal,' he told Bernama. Abdul Karim said to date, KM2025 has attracted a total of 7,822 registered runners, comprising 6,719 Malaysians and 1,103 international participants. He added that most of the local runners are from Sarawak, while foreign participants hail from countries like Brunei, Canada, China, Ghana, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Japan, South Korea, the Maldives, the Netherlands, the Philippines, Singapore, South Africa, Thailand, Vietnam and the United Kingdom. KM2025 is a distance running road race event consisting of Kuching Full Marathon (42km), Kuching Half Marathon (21km), Kuching 10km run and Kuching 5km run. It is an international road race recognised by Association of International Marathons and Distance Races (AIMS) as listed in the AIMS Race Calendar at
Barnama
27-05-2025
- Sport
- Barnama
Sarawak Plans Thailand 2025 SEA Games Visit To Prepare For 2027 Hosting Duties
KUCHING, May 27 (Bernama) -- As co-host of the 2027 SEA Games, Sarawak plans a benchmarking visit to Thailand - the host of the 2025 SEA Games - to study the live operations of the major sporting event. Sarawak Youth, Sports and Entrepreneur Development Minister Datuk Seri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah said the visit was important to ensure a world-class delivery when the state hosts the biennial multi-sport Games in 2027. 'The knowledge gained will help us refine our strategies for 2027. Ultimately, the SEA Games will not only inspire future athletes but will also position Kuching as a central hub for international sports in Southeast Asia, marking Sarawak's bold stride onto the global stage,' he said in his winding-up speech at the State Legislative Assembly here today. bootstrap slideshow The 33rd edition of the Southeast Asian Games is scheduled to be held in Thailand from Dec 9-20. On March 28, Abdul Karim reportedly said that Sarawak expects to host 18 events during the 2027 SEA Games, including bowling, swimming, diving, cricket, taekwondo, archery and shooting. Abdul Karim said his ministry is overseeing 87 sports facilities statewide, with 25 new projects being developed under initiatives such as the Projek Rakyat and the Development Agency Projects and Programmes (DAPP). 'These facilities are being upgraded and modernised to meet national and international standards, fulfil requirements for hosting international tournaments, enhance competitiveness and increase their appeal to today's youth,' he said. He added that in a bid to strengthen Sarawak's competitive edge, the Sarawak Sports Corporation (SSC) is refining its development strategy by focusing on 14 high-potential sports with strong medal prospects. They are golf, taekwondo, bowling, aquatics (swimming and diving), boxing, muay Thai, athletics, archery, silat, squash, volleyball, artistic gymnastics, wushu and lawn bowls.
