Karim laments racial slant to responses
Minister says social media has blown his statement out of proportion, reveals threat to burn down his house
SIBU: Youth and Sports Minister Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah said his recent statement on rewards to national diver Pandelela Rinong for securing Malaysia’s first-ever gold medal at the Fina Diving World Cup, has been blown out of proportion by the social media.
He revealed that it has even led to threats to burn his house down.
The state government would want to see Pandelela and her family being assisted as her family too contributed to her success, he added.
“That is what I am trying to say…when nearing to election, a lot of them turning it into a racial thing…it hurts me because I am not a racist. We will support whether (the athlete) is a Chinese, (or) Dayak.
“But unfortunately, that is how it is, the social media is like that. I have to accept it (as) it is freedom of expression. I even read one (post) in the Facebook – better burn down Karim’s house.
“To me, that is already a criminal intent, but I am not going to lodge a police report. I hope that it (his remarks) could be clarified because there is no bad intention. I do not want Pandelela to think what did the Minister said. Even (the former federal youth and sports minister) Syed Saddiq, probably did not read the whole text of what I had mentioned, because he himself also said he did not agree with me. He has his own personal opinion.
“The state government has its own way on how to give; who should be given and the kind of award that should be given. We are not like any other states that will ‘dish’ out datukship…,” Abdul Karim told a press conference after visiting PLUX Incubation Hub here yesterday.
He added that he was not in the position to decide the form of rewards for deserving athletes in the state.
“The state government has its own way and mechanism to reward athletes obtaining success in both local and international arena. I am not in the position to announce which awards to be accorded to an eligible athlete.
“It has to go through a committee responsible to give out such awards,” he pointed out.
Abdul Karim was making a clarification to his recent statement that it was not good to always reward an athlete each time he or she won something.
Abdul Karim also revealed that he had received phone calls from people asking if the state would accord Pandelela – a twotime Olympic medalist – with a Datukship in recognition of her sporting achievements, similar to several other renowned national athletes.
The minister said he was once an athlete and the feeling of achievement surpassed that of monetary award.
“The feeling of satisfaction when standing on the podium. You will understand the feeling if you are an athlete. Money is secondary,” he said.
He stressed that the state government always supports state athletes not just in monetary form but also awards.
Among those present at the press conference were Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture permanent secretary Hii Chang Kee, Acting Sibu Resident Wong Hee Sieng, PLUX Incubation Hub advisor Dr Gregory Hii, PLUX Incubation Hub CEO Dr Renco Yong and Sibu Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry president Datuk Lau Cheng Kiong.
When nearing to election, a lot of them turning it into a racial thing…it hurts me because I am not a racist. We will support whether (the athlete) is a Chinese, (or) Dayak.
— Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah, Youth and Sports Minister