He has served as State Minister of Tourism, Arts, Culture, Youth and Sports of Sarawak since May 2017.

He served as the State Assistant Minister of Youth and Sports of Sarawak from January 2017 to May 2017 and State Assistant Minister of Housing and Youth Development of Sarawak from September 2011 to January 2017.

He has also served as the Member of the Sarawak State Legislative Assembly (MLA) for Asajaya since September 2001.

Abdul Karim was first appointed as Assistant Minister for Housing and Youth Development after successfully defending his seat and becoming a three-term MLA in 2011.

[2] In May 2017, Abdul Karim was promoted to full minister by the sixth Chief Minister of Sarawak Abang Abdul Rahman Zohari Abang Openg to head the Ministry of Tourism, Art, Culture, Youth and Sports.