By Salbinous Saribun

MONDAY, 14 MARCH – Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) continues to play a role as a centre of higher learning through the sharing of knowledge and research studies with the public.

Recently, UMS through the Institute for Tropical Biology and Conservation (ITBC) organised the UMS Borneensis Friends 2016 Programme involving 30 students from five secondary schools in Sabah.

According to the Vice-Chancellor of UMS, Professor Datuk Dr. Mohd Harun Abdullah, the three-day programme was aimed to educate and raise the awareness among Malaysians on our natural heritage.

“The programme, which is implemented using biodiversity specimen collection is important to motivate the young to engage in nature conservation and research in the future,” he said when officiating the closing of the programme.

He said, Sabah was famous as the world’s major centre for biodiversity, having the largest conservation area of over 400,000 hectares.

“Thus, ITBC UMS as the university’s centre of excellence bears the responsibility to highlight the strength of studies in the field of biodiversity and the effectiveness of environmental education for the benefit of the local and international community,” Datuk Harun added.

The five schools involved in this programme are Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan (SMK) Likas, SMK Tebobon, SM St. Michael, SM All Saints and SMK Arshad.

Also present at the ceremony were Chairman of UMS Board of Directors, Tun Zaki Tun Azmi; State Education Director, Datuk Jame Alip and ITBC Director, Professor Dr. Charles Vairappan. – (fl)

FRIDAY, 11 MARCH - Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) being an ecocampus university, continues to promote fitness and healthy lifestyle amongst its campus community.

In support of this, the Faculty of Psychology and Education (FPP) has turned part of its ground floor into a gymnasium (gym) complete with shower and toilets for its gym users and has been in operation since July 2013.

According to FPP Youth and Sports Officer, Eeza Zainal, the gym also offers other arrangements such as fitness programmes, rehabilitation programme, personal trainer and bicycles for rent.

“Our gym is open to students and staff including outsiders, with low chargeable rates,” she said, referring to the separate fees set for members and walk-in users of the gym, as well as the service of a personal trainer.

The gym called Rehab & Fitness Centre is open on weekdays from 6.00 am – 10.00 pm, Saturdays from 4.00 pm to 7.00 pm and close on Sundays and public holidays.

It was initially opened to cater to the needs of the Graduate Teachers Programme and Sports Science Programme of FPP, UMS.

Their upcoming activity is a ‘Junior Camp 2016’, which will be held from 18-20 March 2016.  This camp is open to children between 6-12 years old.  The package includes a T-shirt, meals and a certificate for each participant.

For further details, please contact Nor Eeza Zainal Abidin at 013-3777769 or her email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. - FL

This is a journey of 10 years of sustained efforts on brood stock management and intensive research to develop the closed cycle TGGG.

According to the Director of IPMB, Professor Dr. Rossita Shapawi, the institute has progressed from the first-in-the-world production of hybrid of TGGG in 2006.

“The approach and technology developed at our fish hatchery has since been adopted across many grouper industries in Southeast Asia and contributed to the sustainability of seed production and hence economic viability of this enterprise.

“The hybrid has many attributes including fast growth, higher resilience to environmental variations, better disease resistance and excellent organoleptic quality,” she said.

To date, 100 million eggs of F2 TGGG hybrid have been harvested from 5 batches of spawning at IPMB’s fish hatchery.  The hatching rate of F2 hybrid TGGG is remarkably high ranging from 95% to 98%, reflecting a strong possibility of resilience that heterosis could have imparted.

“The survival rate is as high as 40% and all larvae and early juvenile of the F2 generation are taken care of and remain under intensive investigations,” she added.

IPMB is also in partnership with Kinki University, a leader in Japan in the aquaculture industry that will help to strengthen the grouper research and its commercialisation.

“I am please to invite the corporate sector to be partner in our economically viable aquaculture programmes,” Professor Dr. Rossita concluded. – FL

Source: Flora Anne Asalin, Curator (IPMB)

THURSDAY, 10 MARCH – Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) has signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) with the Sarawak/Sabah Kuala Lumpur and Selangor Heritage Society (PWSSKLS) that took place at the office of the Vice-Chancellor, today.

UMS was represented by the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Datuk Dr. Mohd. Harun Abdullah, and PWSSKLS was represented by its Advisor, Dr. John Laurence William.

Datuk Harun said, he was grateful to PWSSKLS for the signing of the MoA, which would involve an integrated education at postgraduate level.

“We have seven courses offered under Master’s of Education namely TESL, Education Management, Computer in Education, Curriculum and Instructional Design, Science, Physical and Health Education and Counseling Psychology,” he said adding that these postgrad students would be attending their classes during the school holidays.

Meanwhile, Dr. John Laurence informed that the students comprising school teachers were also ready to continue their studies at graduate level.

“We will ensure that the students (teachers) who are attending this programme give their full commitment to complete their studies in accordance with the stipulated time frame.  Many more will be joining the programme,” he said.

According to him, the first cohort of student intake was 100 and would begin their studies at the end of April.

At the ceremony, Dr. John Laurence also handed over an education sponsorship to Datuk Harun amounting to RM100,000 and also announced that a contribution of RM5,000 to the Faculty of Psychology and Education (FPP) to sponsor a dance troupe that would be competing at the Borneo Hornbill Festival managed by PWSSKLS.

Also present at the ceremony were the Chairman of PWSSKLS, Munica Liwan; UMS Registrar, No’man Datuk Hj. Ahmad and Dean of FPP, Professor Dr. Ismail Ibrahim. – CD- (fl)

Photo: Suzeanywaty Gasinin