Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) has its oldest graduate receiving a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degree, at 74-years-old, during the state university’s 26th convocation ceremony 

Datin Saidutal Badru Mohd Said Keruak said age is never a hurdle to success as long as it is “accompanied by determination”.

The grandmother of three said she chose to study History at UMS to “return to her roots”, eventhough she received an offer from International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM).

“I hope my achievement serves as an inspiration to the youth out there who wish to pursue higher education.

“Don’t focus too much on age; what matters is your will and spirit because the journey of acquiring knowledge is not an easy one,“ the former Syariah lawyer was quoted in a statement.

The older sister of former Sabah chief minister Datuk Seri Salleh Said Keruak obtained her bachelor’s degree from Unversity Malaya at the age of 40 and pursued her master’s at 55 years old.

“I seized the opportunity to further my studies when my children had completed their education and established careers of their own.

“At the same time, I began my career as a secretary in 1970 at the Chief Minister’s Office in Sabah under the leadership of Tun Mustapha Harun,” the Kota Belud native added.

Saidutal conveyed her gratitude to her family for being her greatest source of support and motivation throughout her journey pursuing her studies.

The mother of three received received received the Doctor of Philosophy degree scroll in History, presented by the Yang Di-Pertua Negeri of Sabah, Tun Juhar Mahiruddin, at the 26th UMS convocation ceremony.

Individuals with special needs can now expect better access to quality healthcare, including regular screenings and specialised services tailored to their needs.

This improvement follows a recent partnership between Universiti Malaysia Sabah's (UMS) Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences and Special Olympics Sabah, formalised through a Letter of Intent (LOI).

Faculty dean Datuk Dr Mohd Yusof Ibrahim said the partnership is a major step towards enhancing the well-being of individuals with intellectual disabilities in Sabah.

He added that it advances inclusive health initiatives.

"The LOI marks a unified effort to address the health disparities faced by individuals with intellectual disabilities," he said.

"This collaboration focuses on improving healthcare access, increasing awareness of inclusive health practices, and implementing community engagement programmes that support this group,” he added.

He said that the partnership embodies the spirit of Malaysia Madani, where education and healthcare institutions work together to create an inclusive ecosystem for all, especially the marginalised.

"Through education, training, and research, this collaboration aims to ensure individuals with intellectual disabilities receive the health opportunities they deserve, paving the way for a more inclusive society," he added.

Special Olympics Sabah chairman Dr Jiloris Julian Frederick Dony expressed enthusiasm for the partnership, stressing that it strengthens their mission to empower individuals with intellectual disabilities.

"This partnership will help them live healthier, more fulfilling lives. We look forward to working closely with UMS to bring meaningful change to our community."

Under the partnership, special athletes will benefit from regular health programmes and specialised clinical care, ensuring better healthcare access.

It will also equip healthcare professionals and students with the knowledge and skills to support individuals with intellectual disabilities effectively.

Additionally, the collaboration encourages research to address health challenges faced by this community, contributing to evidence-based healthcare practices.

This partnership aligns with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly in promoting good health and well-being for all.

Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) received RM 200,000 contribution for the implementation of research projects and the promotion of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) by the university.

The contribution was presented by the Chairman of Synerlitz, Tan Sri Dato’ Setia Mohd Anwar, to the UMS Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research and Innovation), Prof. Ir. Dr. Rosalam Hj. Sarbatly, who represents UMS during an event held in conjunction with the Charity Golf Tournament for the 100MW Power Plant Project in Kimanis organized by Synerlitz (M) Sdn Bhd.

Also witnessing the symbolic handover of the mock cheque were the Sabah State Secretary, Datuk Seri Sr Hj Safar Untong, and the Chief Executive Officer of Synerlitz, Datuk Michael Lee.

UMS in a statement stated that the funds would be utilized by the UMS Preparatory Centre for Science and Technology (PPST), led by PPST Director, ChM. Dr. Newati Wid, to implement STEM research projects and initiatives to foster STEM culture among primary and secondary school students.

"UMS expresses its gratitude for this contribution, which is expected to have a significant impact on science and technology education and contribute to building a more competitive future generation," according to UMS statement.

Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) through Borneo Tourism Research Centre (BTRC), Faculty of Business, Economics and Accountancy (FBEA) in collaboration with the Sabah Birdwatchers Association (SBA), successfully organized the three-day Seabirds Identification Workshop recently.

According to BTRC Director, Associate Professor Dr. Balvinder K. Kler, the event which is also supported by the Sabah Tourism Board (STB) and JETAMA Sdn. Bhd. was part of UMS’s 30th anniversary celebrations.

“A total of 51 participants attended this workshop consisting of Sabahan tourist guides and independent birding enthusiasts including one participant from Singapore.

“The initiative aimed to enhance birdwatching skills while highlighting its importance as a niche ecotourism activity in Sabah,” she said.

She added that for this workshop, a well-known field ornithologist, David Bakewell was flown in for this course to train the participants at UMS.

“Day one was a packed programme covering the identification of terns, skuas and gulls in the morning, proceeding to the identification of shearwater, petrels, frigatebirds and boobies in the afternoon.

“A field trip to Mantanani island, off Kota Belud on day two did not disappoint as participants were delighted by large numbers of frigatebirds including Lesser and Christmas Frigatebirds just as they left the Kampung Rampayan Laut jetty,” she said.

Balvinder noted that since birdwatching is a lucrative niche ecotourism market in Sabah and there is a need for more birdwatching guides, SBA and UMS have collaborated since 2022 to encourage birdwatching as a hobby amongst students and locals to understand the value of habitat conservation.

“Identification workshops so far have included Shorebirds in 2022, Raptors in 2023, and this year on Seabirds.

“In line with the UMS slogan, "Leading Towards Innovative Societies", UMS continues to engage with NGOs like SBA to provide the avenue for our youth in the tourism industry to enhance their skills and knowledge.

“Several participants were younger guides who will receive Continuous Tourism Related Education (CTRE) certification from the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture (MOTAC) for this course,” she said, while adding that more birdwatching courses are in the works targeting community-based tourism players, as well as a forum with international experts next year.

Meanwhile, SBA President, Ron Pudin said SBA aiming to provide future birders with a better platform to pursue their interest, especially the junior or school levels exposure.

“This includes spreading the message that birdwatching is a healthy activity which promotes the well-being for individuals and families.

“We are very glad that the outing made a record of sorts as 52 in total which is the largest group of birders congregated on Mantanani island at one time,” he said while commenting on the second day trip to Mantanani Island.

On the final day, participants reviewed photographs taken during the field trip in relation to knowledge gained in class.

They also learnt more about the intricacies of the ebird app hosted by the Cornell Ornithology Lab, USA, which acts as a publicly available record of the value of a place as a birding location where enthusiasts contribute sightings, log species and numbers observed and keep checklists.