WEDNESDAY, 16 OCTOBER – The Media Division, Chancellery Department had taken the initiative to work closely with the local and national media when they held courtesy calls to the officers of Chief Editors of newspaper organisations around Kota Kinabalu, recently.

The courtesy call was headed by Media Division officer, Che Hasruddin Che Hasan among others acted as a platform for both UMS and media to discuss on possible cooperation which could be implemented by both sides.

Besides that, Che Hasruddin said that such initiatives should be continued to foster closer rapport between UMS and all media fraternity in Sabah which have been established since before. The visit he said also gave opportunity for UMS to express its thanks and gratitude to all local and national newspapers that have been supporting and publishing news about UMS.

For the phase 1, staff of Media Division met with the Bureau Head of Utusan Malaysia Sabah Branch, Ahmad Tarmizi Abdul Rahman; Assistant Bureau Head of Kosmo!, Mustapa Lakawa; Bureau Head of Berita Harian, Wan Faizah Ismayatim; Bureau Head Harian Metro, Mohd Razlan Salleh and the Editor for New Straits Times Malay language , Mohd Amin Muin. – FL

 
By Mohd. Affzanizam Mohd Amin

 
Chancellery Department

 

MONDAY, 14 OCTOBER – The overall use of Information Technology (IT) in teaching and learning at Institutions of Higher Learning is essential in line with the modernisation of the current globalisation development.

According to the Dean of the School of Education and Social Development (SPPS), Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ismail Ibrahim, the use of various technologies would attract students into learning in a classroom or lecture room.

However, he added that the conventional method is still relevant with additional improvements to the advanced technology that has now become a trend among our society especially universities students. He said this when met by Chancellery Media representative in his office.

”In the era before the development of internet and other technologies, many prominent figures and country leaders were born. Thus, in my view, the previous system is still relevant but need to go through modifications in line with the rapid modernisation and development of current technology,” Dr. Ismail added.

When asked to comment on former Prime Minister Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad in the national newspaper recently on the Modernisation of the Teaching Sector he said, it was a good suggestion to produce IT literate students with vast knowledge.

“However, its implementation should take into account remote schools in the interior which may not be ready especially in the use of internet and computers due to issues such as electricity supply or the lack of relevant infrastructure,” he further added. – FL

 

By Salbinous Saribun

 
Media Division, Chancellery Division

MONDAY, 14 OCTOBER – A Kinabalu Public Lecture Series by social activist, Tan Sri Datuk Seri Panglima (Dr.) Lee Lam Thye will be held on 16 October, at 8.30 am at the Yeoh Tiong Lay (YTL) Hall, Yayasan UMS Building.

The public lecture organised by the School of Social Sciences in collaboration with the Kadazan Dusun Chair and the Ethnography Research and Development Unit will touch on ‘Moral and Social Agenda For 1Malaysia’.

This is an academic programme aimed at creating room for scholarly talks to express ideas by leaders and the learned regarding the existence and development of Sabah.

This academic talk is also aimed at elevating local knowledge in the field of social sciences in Sabah.

The first series was organised on 2 February 2012 featuring Eminent Professor Datuk Dr. Shamsul Amri Baharuddin from Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, while the second series was held on 1 May 2012 which saw the former Prime Minister of Malaysia, Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohammad giving a talk to a packed audience made up of UMS community.

The public are also welcome. - FL

 

By Mohd. Affzanizam Mohd. Amin


Chancellery Department
 

SATURDAY, 12 OCTOBER – His love for 50 four-legged fur ball friends was what brought us to his house called Rumah Pangi situated in Tuaran, on 11 October, 2013 at 9.15 am. Dr. Rem is a scientist and a specialist in Climate Change and Climatology in Sabah and internationally. One would ask, where does he find time to take care of his furry friends given his hectic schedule as a lecturer and researcher?

Dr. Ramzah Dambul or ‘Dr. Rem’ as he is more affectionately known hails from Ranau, Sabah and is attached to Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS). He received his Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Synoptic Climatology from East Anglia University, Norwich in 2007. He is now attached to the King Abdul Aziz University, Jeddah researching the long term climate change and its effect on the world socio economy.

As an expert in the study of climate change, Dr. Ramzah who is more affectionately called ‘Dr. Rem’, is a unique man. In an interview with him recently, Dr. Ramzah unwrapped his life story regarding the forecasting of the weather, his life with his cats and the story behind his poems.

UMS Media: Is is true that you are attracted to the way the traditional way of forecasting the weather and how is it done?

Dr. Ramzah: Yes. One of the ways I still remember to this day was when my mother would quickly picked her laundry which were still hanging on the lines because she knew that rain would be falling soon. My mother could tell just by looking at ants that would leave their habitat bringing their eggs to higher grounds. This traditional knowledge is indeed very interesting.

UMS Media: How many cats do you have and how did the interest come about in wanting to take care of them?

Dr. Ramzah: Actually, it was the feeling of empathy towards them that had led me to take care of them. In 2009, I was taking care of two cats and another three that I got from Tuaran town. All the cats were very thin and didn’t have enough to eat. So, I brought them home, bathed and nursed them. I am actually allergic to cats fur. The affection towards them came because I can’t help seeing them being left without being cared for. For me, cats are like human, they need attention, to be protected and loved. Because of that, I built a house especially for them which has now grown to 50 in total. This doesn’t include the one that was found just a few days ago which is now quarantined because of sickness.

UMS Media: How do you find time to care for them and how much do you spend just to take care of them?

Dr. Ramzah: I have a helper who will help to take care of them when I’m not around. All my cats have a medical record and are potty trained. Alhamdulillah, all my cats are well-disciplined. About the costs, I figured it to be around RM900 to RM1,200. If you look closely, these cats are not so attractive, they are not chubby and fluffy. I put emphasis on their health rather then their attractiveness. For me, the reason why cats die early is because of being over-weight which leads to them being inactive and sickly.

UMS Media: Besides being busy and your focus on your career as well as taking care of your cats, you are also a unique poet, filled with passion, revolving around the longing for love. As an example, your anthology of poems in ‘Alien Menchari Chinta’. Is it about yourself?

Dr. Ramzah: Oh no! In fact, 99 per cent of the poems are talking about the life of a friend and the environment. Only one or two would probably be about me.

UMS Media: How about the poem on Hujan Khinzir (Swine Rain)? What is the story behind it?

Dr. Ramzah: This poem talks about my disappointment on some of our undergraduates who are not keen to quest for knowledge, they are here only because of the ‘paper’. The knowledge that they seek is only on paper.

UMS Media: Are you not concerned when some people questioned why a scientist would be delve into arts and creative arts?

Dr. Ramzah: I have never take offence or get angry with those remarks because they are entitled to their own opinion. This is like a therapy for the soul and mind. It is not peculiar when a scientist can draw doodle and writes poems. In fact, it helps me to master my Malay language better.

UMS Media: Do you write because of you want to achieve something? Maybe a Literary Award?

Dr. Ramzah: In fact for me, arts and literature are not meant to be valued or be given award for, it is a priviledge for me to express my ideas and feelings. I will continue to write ceaselessly. – FL

 
By:
Media Division
Chancellery Division