{
  "id": 42851,
  "title": "Karim ready to make way after 25 years in politics",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/02/karim-ready-to-make-way-after-25-years-in-politics",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-08-02T10:34:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Free Malaysia Today",
    "slug": "free-malaysia-today",
    "url": "https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2026/08/02/abdul-karim-ready-to-make-way-after-25-years-in-politics"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "For nearly two and a half decades, Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah has been a stalwart in Sarawak's political scene, serving as the representative for the Asajaya constituency since 2001. Despite his extensive tenure, the Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) information chief has now announced his readiness to step aside for the benefit of new leaders. In an interview at an IIUM Alumni Ummatic Gathering, Hamzah revealed that he had previously conveyed his intention to retire to Premier Abang Johari Openg after his third term, marking the 15-year threshold he deemed sufficient.\n\nThroughout his career, Hamzah has not only retained his seat but also taken on added responsibilities, including managing the tourism portfolio and the former youth, sports, and entrepreneur development portfolio. He emphasized the importance of elected representatives being prepared to relinquish their positions when necessary, irrespective of their term count. \"Anyone who becomes an elected representative in Sarawak, whether we are serving our first term or fifth term, third term or sixth term, we must be prepared when the situation requires us to stop, we stop,\" he stated.\n\nHamzah also urged politicians against threatening an independent candidacy if they are not chosen by the party. He stressed that such feelings of defiance are counterproductive and advised politicians to accept and respect the decision to make way. \"There should not be any feeling of not wanting to let go (of the position) or saying, ‘if I am not selected, I will fight back’. There should not be any of that,\" he asserted. \"As a politician, when it is time for you to go, and the party feels that new blood should be brought in, then you just have to accept that.\"",
  "summary": "The five-term Asajaya assemblyman says politicians must be willing to let go when their party decides it is time to introduce new faces.",
  "key_points": [
    "Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah has served Sarawak's Asajaya constituency for 25 years.",
    "He announced readiness to step aside for new leaders after third term.",
    "Hamzah urged politicians to accept relinquishing positions when needed."
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}