Abd Karim: Criticism over Affin Bank hornbill gaffe blown out of proportion

Borneo Post

19-05-2025

Abdul Karim speaks to reporters when met at the DUN Complex. — Photo by Mohd Faisal Ahmad
KUCHING (May 19) Criticism over the 'wrong' hornbill species used on the Affin Bank's Kenyalang Card is a non-issue blown out of proportion, said Minister of Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Dato Sri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah.
He said the depiction of the hornbill on the card should not be turned into a controversy, adding that the focus should be on the positive intention behind the design.
'That should not have been made into an issue, because there are so many varieties of the hornbill. The intention was to have a hornbill as part of the card's design and I think what they have done is something good,' he told reporters at the State Legislative Assembly (DUN) Complex here today.
He thus dismissed the distinction as insignificant, arguing that people should not be narrow-minded, and questioned whether it must specifically be 'this hornbill or that hornbill'.
He also opined there was no need to change the logo or design, as the symbolic association with Sarawak remained intact.
'Does the mascot need to look exactly like a real hornbill? The moment someone sees it, it's recognisable as a '(burung) kenyalang', which is synonymous with Sarawak.
'Personally, I view this as an overreaction—making a mountain out of a molehill. Whether the hornbill horn (casque) is going up or going down, that's not an issue. When you see the bird, you know it's a hornbill. So, what's the issue there?
'I believe Affin has good intentions. Why create all these very petty issues and turn them into something big? There are many other issues that can be raised, such as issues that matter to the people—not issues related to a bank card and the hornbill,' he said.
He further compared the situation to the many types of common birds, such as the 'burung pipit', which is a local term for small sparrow-like birds, pointing out that just as there were various species of these, the same applied to hornbills.
Apart from that, it was his understanding the card was only issued in Sarawak and meant to reflect the state, saying the government saw no pressing need for any correction or apology from Affin Bank.
Abdul Karim was responding to recent remarks made by Pending assemblywoman Violet Yong, who had criticised Affin Bank for using the image of the Great Hornbill on a card meant to represent Sarawak.
Yong described it as a 'cultural misrepresentation', noting that the Great Hornbill was not native to the state and differed from the Rhinoceros Hornbill, or 'Burung Kenyalang', which is Sarawak's state bird. Abdul Karim Affin Bank Kenyalang Card lead