Abdul Karim: I’m not moving away from Asajaya

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KUCHING: Chief political secretary to the Chief Minister Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah has rubbished any suggestions that he would move away from Asajaya in the coming state election.

He said he was still comfortable at Asajaya and had no intention to stand in another seat unless instructed by Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) and Barisan Nasional (BN) top leadership.

“At the moment, I am still comfortable at Asajaya. If re-nominated in the state election, hopefully I will stay at ‘kawasan lama’ (referring to Asajaya),” he told reporters after the Sarawak Cup Paintball Tournament 2011 yesterday.

Rumours had it that Karim, also a PBB supreme council member, would be nominated to stand in either Demak Laut or Sadong Jaya where incumbents  Datuk Dr Abang Rauf Abang Zen and Datuk Wan Wahab Wan Sanusi had publicly announced their decisions not to seek re-election.

Karim first stood in Asajaya in 2001. In the 2006 state election, he defeated Mosidi Sait of PKR by 5,063-vote majority.

It is speculated that PKR would field Arip Ameran, a syariah lawyer, to take on Karim this time.

On a related matter, Karim hoped Sarawakians would use their wise judgment during the election. “Dissolution of DUN (State Legislative Assembly) is tomorrow (Monday). Insya Allah, the election will be in April.”

“And my hope is for all Sarawakians to exercise their responsibilities well. No need to ‘fitnah’ (slander) here and there, and let’s have a healthy fight,” he said.