By: Mohd Affzanizam Mohd Amin

KOTA KINABALU: Two Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) students who represented the university for the ‘Talk-Show Mahasiswa Indonesia-Malaysia 2021’ won several awards in the competition.

Science and Natural Resource faculty’s student, Muhammad Iman Azhar and Social Science and Humanity faculty’s student, Martika Muhamad Rezuan emerged as champions for the best presentation category while the innovation programme ‘Digital Hero’ presented was also selected as the Best Innovation winner.

UMS also won the second prize for the ‘innovative campus’ category in the competition that was held via the internet and participated by several other tertiary institutes in Malaysia and Indonesia.

Those participating from Malaysia are Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM), Universiti Malaysia Pahang (UMP), Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM), Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM), and Kolej Universiti Polytech Mara Kuala Lumpur (KUPTM).

Meanwhile, those participating from Indonesia are Universitas Syiah Kuala (USK), Politeknik Caltex Riau (PCR), Universitas Widya Kartika Surabaya (UWIKA), Politeknik Aceh Selatan (POLTAS), Politeknik Perkapalan Negeri Surabaya (PPNS) and Akfar YPPM Mandiri Banda Aceh.

Source: https://www.theborneopost.com/2021/02/15/ums-students-win-awards-for-malaysia/

KOTA KINABALU: Newly-appointed Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) Board of Directors chairman, Datuk Abdul Rahman Dahlan has put the hostel and campus issue as one his three main priorities.

“It is my hope that the majority of the UMS students would be able to live on campus instead of living outside,” said Abdul Rahman in his Facebook page.

“This is to ensure that they could experience and enjoy campus life and so that they could be close to all the university’s facilities,” he added.

Abdul Rahman further disclosed that he would ensure that the construction of the UMS Hospital would run smoothly.

“The UMS Hospital would be the birthplace of the medical doctors of the future and it would also provide world-class health services to the people,” he said.

Abdul Rahman said that he would also focus on increasing the university’s income in line with the autonomy given by the Higher Education Ministry.

He expressed his hope that UMS would continue to provide to the development of Sabah and Malaysia as a whole.

Abdul Rahman had previously paid a courtesy call to Chief Minister cum UMS Pro-Chancellor Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor.

Source: https://www.theborneopost.com/2021/02/03/hostel-campus-issue-among-priorities-of-new-ums-chairman/

KOTA KINABALU: Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Mohd Noor wants Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) to produce future entrepreneurs, especially among Sabah students in oil and gas (O&G) field.

This was only apt since UMS was currently producing graduates in the O&G field, he said, when meeting with UMS Board of Directors Chairman Datuk Seri Abdul Rahman Dahlan and Vice Chancellor Prof. Datuk Dr Taufiq Yap Yun Hin at his office in the State Administrative Centre (PPNS), Monday.

Abdul Rahman said the courtesy call was to inform Hajiji of his appointment as one of the two Pro Chancellors of UMS replacing former CM Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal.

The Chief Minister was informed that the appointment letter would be presented by the Head of State soon.

Abdul Rahman said the other Pro Chancellor was Tan Sri Azman Hashim who is the Chairman of Arab Malaysian Bank.

Abdul Rahman and Dr Taufiq also briefed Hajiji on the latest developments and challenges faced by UMS such as students’ housing and the status of UMS Smart Hospital building that has been delayed due to the pandemic. 

At the same time, UMS was offering the State Government expertise in research particularly on the economy, policies amongst others.

Abdul Rahman also expressed UMS’ keenness to work with the State Science, Technology and Innovation Ministry as its science and technology advisor.

Since all universities have been given autonomy to be self-sufficient, he said he believed UMS and the State Government could explore possible collaborations in many fields.

Source: https://www.dailyexpress.com.my/news/165783/ums-told-tap-oil-and-gas-role-/ 

KOTA KINABALU: Covid-19 vaccine recipients still have to abide by the standard operating procedures (SOP) after they get the full two doses of the inoculation.

Universiti Sabah Malaysia family medicine consultant Associate Professor Dr Mohd Nazri Mohd Daud said such measures were meant for the safety not just of themselves but the people around them.

"The vaccine administered is meant to activate the immunity system in the body to fight or prevent diseases, which leads to preventing the spread of the virus.

"Although the clinical data has stated (as much as) 95 per cent of vaccine effectiveness against Covid-19 virus, it is better if the SOP are obeyed," he said, adding the virus is still considered new and complex and requires long-term data collection.

Dr Nazri was speaking during a virtual Covid-19 Education and Health series that was broadcast in the varsity's Facebook page and YouTube Channel.

He added that those with high risk of being exposed to Covid-19 are encouraged to get the vaccine when it is available in the country soon.

"Even though the production period for the vaccine is short, those products from companies such as Pfizer and BioNTech had undergone preclinical and third phase clinical trials as well as data collection that showed high effectiveness.

"The vaccine is crucial and without it the community will have to live (battling) the pandemic for a long time," he added.

The four categories that have to be prioritised in vaccination include frontliners, senior citizens, those with chronic diseases as well as those who need protection such as expecting and nursing mothers.

Source: https://www.nst.com.my/news/nation/2021/01/660971/expert-follow-covid-19-sop-even-after-vaccination