KOTA KINABALU -- Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) is offering drive-through COVID-19 screenings to the public.

UMS Pusat Rawatan Warga (PRW) director Dr Muhammad Syafiq Abdullah said the service is available daily at the PRW located near the UMS sports centre from 9.30 am to 12 pm and 2.30 pm to 4.30 pm.

“The screening will be made at the PRW lobby quickly, carefully and safely without them even having to get down from the car,” he said in a statement today.

According to Dr Syafiq, the rapid test method would cost a payment of RM95 while the rt-PCR screening would cost RM333.

“All payments can be made through online banking. Receipts will be issued online. This is to ensure that the entire process remains contact-free so as to reduce the risk of infection.

“The initiative is conducted by PRW, with the cooperation of Universiti Malaysia Hospital Sabah (HUMS), the UMS Medical and Health Science Faculty lab,” he said.

Source: https://www.bernama.com/en/region/news.php?id=1904959

KOTA KINABALU: A geologist expects a strong seismic event to occur in Lahad Datu in the near future based on the frequency of earthquake episodes recorded.

Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) academician Professor Dr Felix Tongkul said, even although the historical earthquake record was patchy due to older seismographs, it had improved after 1970.

"For the last 100 years, there have been regular happenings of earthquakes with magnitudes greater than 5.0 (on the Richter scale).

"Four strong earthquakes with magnitudes greater than 6.0 occurred in Kudat in 1951, Lahad Datu (1923 and 1976) and Ranau (2015)," he said in an inaugural virtual lecture on Earthquake Science in Malaysia on the UMS Facebook page.

"The earthquake record in Sabah is too short to come up with a reliable recurrence interval. However, based on available records, the frequency of earthquake occurrences with over 5.0 magnitude in Ranau is about 25 years (1966-1991).

"In Lahad Datu the frequency of earthquake occurrences with magnitude more than 6.0 is about 53 years (1923-1976). Based on this, we should expect another strong earthquake in Lahad Datu soon," said Tongkul.

In Sabah, the last strong quake measuring 6.0 on the Richter scale hit Ranau in 2015. It came 24 years after the 1991 Ranau earthquake.

Through earthquake research, Tongkul noted experts could learn to predict the time, place and size of specific large earthquakes, ideally in a very short time to allow communities to be more prepared.

"Unfortunately, accurate prediction of earthquakes is still not possible at this stage due to the complexity of the system. There are no clear signals before occurrences of a large earthquake.

"However, many aspects of earthquake behaviour can be anticipated with enough precision to be useful in mitigating risks.

"The potential of faults to cause future earthquakes can be assessed by combining geological field studies of previous movements with seismic and geodetic monitoring of current activity," he said.

Tongkul said the Active Fault Research Group coordinated by UMS had in 2012 mapped several potential active faults, namely in Ranau, Kudat, Sandakan, Lahad Datu and Kunak.

From 2018, UMS has been collaborating with Cambridge and Aberdeen universities as well as the Malaysian Meteorological Department to record how earthquake waves propagate under Sabah to determine its crustal structure.

Tongkul pointed out four major challenges of earthquake science in Malaysia: the lack of seismic geological, geodetic and engineering data; inadequate seismic and geodetic monitoring system; lack of trained human resources; and, a lack of public awareness.

As such, he said there was a need for several things, that is to carry out and develop comprehensive geological and engineering studies; coordinated seismic and geodetic monitoring; human resource capacity building; coordinated public education; a special research and development fund; and, a national earthquake research centre.

Significant 5.0 to 6.0 magnitude earthquakes will continue to occur in Malaysia, he said, but this will be limited to certain areas in Sabah especially in Ranau, Lahad Datu, Kunak, and Kudat.

"While earthquakes can't be prevented, levels of risk can be reduced or eliminated with proper understanding of how earthquakes interact with the surroundings.

"Detailed seismic hazard maps in high-risk areas are urgently needed, while earthquake prone areas in Sabah should seriously start implementing new earthquake-resistant building codes.

"This has proven to be effective in reducing casualties in countries that have implemented such measures, such as in Mexico, Chile and New Zealand. I do hope measures proposed can become the basis for quake disaster risk reduction in Malaysia," added Tongkul.

Source: https://www.nst.com.my/news/nation/2020/11/642205/geologist-warns-strong-earthquake-strike-lahad-datu-near-future

KOTA KINABALU: Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) has been entrusted to conduct a     study  on the effectiveness and accuracy of China's Covid-19 test kit.

The test kit is issued by a leading company based in Wuhan.

The study is a collaboration between the university and Sabah-China Commercial Chamber (SCCC) to assist in combating the current situation of the Covid-19 pandemic in the state.

SCCC secretary general Tan Kok Jyh, in a statement, said the test kit is different from the ones currently used to conduct Covid-19 screening.

The collaboration would further nurture research and development activities that can benefit the community.

"We are concerned about the situation in Sabah.

"In this regard, we have obtained a Covid-19 test kit from a company in China for study.

"UMS is the first university we are giving the test kit to because we know this university has enough capacity, equipment and expertise for this purpose," he said.

Tan presented the China-made Covid-19 test kit to UMS vice-chancellor Prof Datuk Dr Taufiq Yap Yun Hin at the varsity's Medical and Health Sciences Faculty yesterday.

He noted such joint efforts formed with UMS would further strengthen the relationship between SCCC and the local university. In extending his appreciation, Taufiq said the varsity looked forward to this good collaboration especially when Sabah is badly affected by the pandemic.

"We in UMS are proud and honoured to be chosen to conduct this study," he said, adding that they hoped the collaboration would continue.

Source: https://www.nst.com.my/news/nation/2020/11/645029/ums-study-effectiveness-wuhans-covid-19-test-kit

THURSDAY, 27 AUGUST – A six member delegation representing Azman Hashim-UMS Gallery (GAH) of Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) made a 3-day Working Visit to the World Culture Organisation (WCO), National Art Gallery in Kuala Lumpur, Bangkita Ceramic Studio, HOM Art Trans and the Islamic Arts Museum Malaysia as part of their itinerary with strategic partners in Malaysia.

On arrival, the delegation led by the Director of GAH, Sarlona J. Gindug was welcomed by representatives from AmCorp Sdn Bhd led by Azmi Hashim, the Executive Chairman, for a short discussion. The delegation visited the World Culture Organisation (WCO) Art & Culture Gallery at Cheras, home of Miniature Culture on invitation by the founder, Foo Loke Kee, an accountant by profession and owns an accounting firm in Malaysia but does 100% handmade heritage arts mainly dough figurines because of his passion for this art. He also produces cultural diorama and has held repeat exhibitions in China and Malaysia. He set up this art and cultural centre in June 2015.

The delegation then moved on to meet with one of the most renowned and well-established artists in Malaysia, Associate Professor Awang Damit Ahmad, 64, at his office in Teluk Panglima Garang, Selangor.  Awang Damit as he is fondly called hails from Kuala Penyu, Sabah but have made Selangor home more than 20 years ago. Both parties held some discussions and exchange of ideas pertaining to visual art and its conservation and preservation.  The delegation was also taken to Bangkita Ceramic Studio adjacent to his office which is run by his son, Muhammad Iqbal Awang Damit, a ceramist who learned the art of ceramics at Universiti Teknologi Mara, Perak and Incheon , South Korea.

The delegation later visited HOM Art Trans, Kuala Lumpur, an independent art space run by Bayu Utomo Radjikin who hails from Tawau, Sabah. Bayu who is the director of HOMS and has been running his art space since 2007 shared his experiences and gave some suggestions and insights to the running of GAH.

The delegation made a short trip to the Islamic Arts Museum Malaysia at Jalan Lembah Perdana, Kuala Lumpur and witnessed a vast display of architecture, quran & manuscript as well as India, China and Malay Galleries and learnt some inputs in the running of the Museum Shop.

The delegation last stop was at the National Art Gallery and was welcomed by the Director-General, Amerrudin bin Ahmad.  The group was given a briefing including exchange of ideas with UMS delegation and a tour of the Curatorial, as well as the Conservation, and Restoration Rooms at the Gallery and learnt a few facts regarding the subject-matter.

Also included in the delegation were Assoc. Prof. Dr. Hj. Baharudin Haji Mohd. Arus, and Dr. Rafiq Idris, the Director of Centre for Investment, Endownment and Wakaf.

/fl