MONDAY, 22 APRIL – Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) received a group of 16 visitors from Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM) Shah Alam.  The group comprised staff from the Melati College of Management UiTM Shah Alam and on hand to receive them was Customer Service Officer, Corporate Relations Division, Fazharia April at the lobby of Chancellory building before being brought to UMS Museum and the Research Gallery of UMS.

According to the Hostel Manager of Melati College UiTM, Zakiah Baharudin, the visit is aimed at exposing its staff on students’ development and to improve their present facilities.  The group also made a visit to the residential colleges of UMS, besides the Aquarium and Marine Museum of UMS including the campus surroundings.  The committee members were satisfied with the results of this visit and hope to benefit from what they had learned and to apply the same to UiTM Shah Alam campus.

By Musaab Umair/Feria Lee

WEDNESDAY, 17 APRIL – After making a pit stop at Kota Marudu, Sandakan, Penampang, Beaufort and Tuaran, the Care 4 Malaysia Programme ‘A Step to the Ivory Tower’ (SEMEGA) 2013 organised by the Student Affairs & Alumni (HEP), UMS continued their journey to Nabawan Zone.

More than 300 visitors comprising students of Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan (SMK) Nabawan attended the programme which was held for one day at the school.  The opening ceremony was officiated by the Nabawan District Education Management Office Unit Head, Ariffin Antikoh representing Datuk Bobbey Ahfang Suan.

In his speech he said as citizens we should be aware, understand and recognise our responsibility in the development our culture and nation.  Thus he said the SEMEGA programme organised by UMS should be commended as noble effort such as this would be able to rouse their love for knowledge.  He also recommended that this programme and activity be continuously promoted.

Also present at the programme was the Director of UMS Alumni Centre, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Mahmud Sudin.

By Musaab Umair

                                                                                                           Information and Media Section, Corporate Relations Division

THURSDAY, 18 APRIL – World Forestry Day is celebrated worldwide every year on 21 March.  In Malaysia, it was celebrated in Pahang at national level with the theme ‘Forestry for Prosperity’.  Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) also celebrated the day with the School of Tropical Forestry (SPTA) as the organiser and had adopted the green concept.

With the theme ‘Our Forest, Our Future’, SPTA had chosen Dryobalanops Lanceolata or ‘Kapur Paji’ tree as the school’s official tree and was planted as a symbolic move towards environment conservation efforts.

Speaking at the official opening ceremony, the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research & Innovation) Prof. Dr. Shahril Yusof representing the Vice-Chancellor of UMS, Prof. Datuk Dr. Mohd. Harun Abdullah, said that the World Forestry Day celebration should not be seen as a mere symbolic celebration but an awareness on the importance of appreciating the value of forests and sustaining it for each generation.

He said the chosen theme this year was appropriate towards realising the idea of EcoCampus where almost 60% of the land used in UMS were consisted of green area made up of landscape and natural forest.

“With the green area, carbon absorption process would be done naturally thus making UMS a municipality known as the 'Low Carbon City'.  This was because UMS will be surrounded by trees,” he added.

The World Forestry Day celebration also included an exhibition on tropical forests by the students of SPTA and colouring competition for primary school students within the vicinity of UMS. 

Also present at the function was the Dean of SPTA, Dr. Normah Awang Besar @ Raffie.

By Faezah Mohd. Dun
Photo: Musaab Umair

                                                                                                     Information and Media Section, Corporate Relations Division

WEDNESDAY, 17 APRIL – About 48 participants participated in 3^rd Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) Closed Bowling Championship recently.  The championship was held to uncover new talents and was divided into two categories namely Man and Woman Individual Categories.

Mohamad Razwan Abdul Rahman from the School of Engineering and Information Technology (SKTM) emerged the champion in the Man’s Category with 625 pinfall beating 19 other competitors.  1^st Runner-up was won by a student from the School of Social Sciences (SSS), Mohamad Irsyad Saafiq Endut with 604 pinfall followed by Abdul Karim Hasan from the School of Psychology and Social Work (SPKS) the 2^nd Runner-up with a total of 574 pinfall.

For the Woman’s Catergory, Dionysia Ginsos and Norsayza Mat Saad from the School of Business and Economics (SPE) each won the first and third placings with a total of 574 and 512 pinfall.  While Farah Naila Rusnan from SKTM emerged the 1^st Runner-up with 527 pinfall.

The official closing and award presentation ceremony was done by Charles Thomas, the Youth and Sports Officer of UMS.  All winners will automatically represent the university at UMS Sports Council Championship (MASUM) and also the Borneo University Students Sports (SUKMAB) 2013.

Meanwhile, UMS Sport Science lecturer, Dr. Mohamad Nizam Nazarudin who was in attendance at the championship said that the quality of all players should be improved if we want to compete at a higher level given the average results which is only at 150.  Thus, he mentioned the need to improve further on our practices which will be monitored by competent coaches. – FL

Source: Dr. Mohamad Nizam Nazarudin, SPPS

                                                                                                          Information and Media Section, Corporate Relations Division