Political campaigners in the upcoming Sabah State election must adopt authentic, youth-centric strategies on social media to effectively engage young voters.

Despite being prolific users of platforms like TikTok and Instagram, their participation is largely passive, more about consuming content than contributing to political discourse, new research by Dr. Latif Lai of the Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities, Universiti Malaysia Sabah, has found.

Titled “Beyond the Ballot: Measuring Political Literacy in the Age of Social Media,” the study reveals a critical gap between Gen Z’s high social media usage and their low levels of political literacy and engagement.

Presenting his findings at the 3rd Regional Symposium on Social Sciences and Humanities Issues held today, Dr. Lai highlighted a disconnect between the perceived political agency of young voters and their actual knowledge. “While Gen Z shows moderate levels of political efficacy, the mismatch with their factual understanding puts them at risk of misinformation,” he explained.

Based on a survey of 344 undergraduates in Sabah, the study concludes that traditional, top-down campaign methods are no longer effective.

To win over this generation, political parties must embrace interactive, visually engaging approaches that resonate with youth concerns, such as the cost of living, employment, and mental health, on platforms they already frequent.

Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) has charted a new milestone in its innovation journey with the launch of three pioneer start-up companies under the Start-Up and Spin-Off (SUSO) Policy which held recently.

This initiative serves as a manifestation of the university’s commitment to translating academic expertise into high impact solutions for society and the economy.

The three companies launched are U Agro Resources Sdn. Bhd., focusing on sustainable aquaculture technology; Geo-Rintis Consultant & Services Sdn. Bhd, offering geo-mapping consultancy services; and EcoInnovate Solutions Sdn. Bhd, dedicated to the development of green technologies for communities and industries.

Their establishment marks a bold step for UMS towards becoming a regional leader in the university driven innovation ecosystem.

According to UMS Deputy Vice Chancellor (Research and Innovation), Professor Ir. Dr. Rosalam Hj. Sarbatly, the launch reflects the university’s ongoing efforts to cultivate a culture of innovation, entrepreneurship, and sustainability among its academic community.

“Our academics are not only generating knowledge, but also creating solutions that bring direct benefits to society and the economy,” he said.

The policy provides a structured framework enabling researchers to establish legitimate business entities with institutional support, in alignment with UMS’s mission of sustainable development, knowledge transfer, and community empowerment.

With the establishment of these companies, UMS is expected to open new avenues for research collaboration, job creation, and commercialization, thereby further strengthening Sabah’s position as a hub for sustainable technology and knowledge-based enterprise.

Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) through its International Relations Programme, Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities (FSSK), hosted a visit by Professor Dr. Omer Kurtbag of Erciyes University, Kayseri, Turkey, from 25 to 29 August 2025.

FSSK Dean, Professor Dr. Asmady Idris, said the purpose of the visit was to evaluate the International Relations Programme, including its course structure, lecturers, as well as undergraduate and postgraduate offerings, and facilities, with the aim of enhancing the programme’s quality to meet international standards.

“Professor Omer's visit has also opened up opportunities for academic cooperation, including student and faculty exchanges, which will further strengthen UMS’s internationalisation agenda.

“His insights and recommendations are invaluable as the faculty works to improve teaching and research quality,” he said in a statement, here, today.

During a courtesy visit to UMS Vice-Chancellor, Professor Datuk Dr. Kasim Mansor, both parties discussed efforts to upgrade the existing Letter of Intent (LoI) to a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between UMS and Erciyes University.

The session also saw the official launch of Malaysia–Turkiye Relations: Sabah Chapter, marking another milestone in strengthening academic and cultural ties between the two nations.

As part of the programme, Professor Omer met with two second-year students from UMS’s International Relations Programme, who are recipients of the Türkiye Scholarships (TIES) and will participate in a short-term academic exchange programme in Turkey.

He also delivered a lecture titled “The Evolution of Turkish Foreign Policy in the Middle East and Asia: Recalibrating Strategic Depth”, which was well received by both students and lecturers. The lecture provided new perspectives on Turkey’s strategic approach to global politics.

“Graduates from UMS’s International Relations Programme exhibit strong employability, with many securing positions in both the public and private sectors in recent years,” Professor Omer remarked during his closing speech.

Also present at the event were postgraduate students and members of the International Relations Club (HA15) FSSK.