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

KOTA KINABALU: The group of students from Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) Medicine and Health Sciences Faculty (FPSK) continue to shine in international competitions.

Fresh from winning runner-up in the recent North Borneo International Intervarsity Open: The Alcohol Debate, the ABBA team emerged champions in the Novice category of the Asia Pacific Quiz Championship (AQC) 2020.

The team comprising second year medical students Nurul Firzanah Mohd Darwis, Kuhaneshvaren Elanggovan, Sim Si Ming and Jivanarajahn Rajendra Kumar defeated Aakhir Q from Singapore, while another Malaysian team, The Goal Diggers grabbed the top spot.

“ABBA excelled in the competition by maintaining an unbeaten record, beating there teams from India and Malaysia in the qualifying round, before winning over another Malaysian team in the semi-finals to secure a place in the final,” said UMS in a statement, Sunday.

Commending their feat, FPSK Dean Prof Dr Mohammad Saffree Jeffree said this showed that UMS medical students have high level of knowledge and are able to turn it into good achievement in world-class quiz competitions.

AQC that started in 2012 is an annual competition and involves participants from Asia Pacific such as Singapore, the Philippines, India, Australia and New Zealand.

The competition was supposed to take place here which was chosen as the host this year, but due to the Covid-19 pandemic, it was held online. This year, the competition was also divided into two categories – Pro and Novice.

Source: https://www.dailyexpress.com.my/news/164237/ums-victorious-at-regional-quiz/