FRIDAY, 24 MAY – A turtle conservation programme in conjunction with World Turtle Day 2013 celebration was held at Mabul Island, Semporna and received good response from locals and foreigners.

The two-day programme was a collaboration effort among Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS), the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Environment and the Sabah Tourism Board through Sabah Parks and the Widllife Department and Uncle Chang’s Sipadan Mabul Dive Lodge.

Asisstant Minister of Tourism, Culture and Environment, Datuk Pang Yuk Ming said the turtle conservation programme was a small product which would attract tourists to that area especially to the districts of Semporna, Tawau, Kunak and Lahad Datu.

“Turtle species are touristic icons which should be appropriately developed because Sabah is known worldwide for its diving centre activities,” he said to newsmen after launching the programme which was participated by volunteers from in and outside the country. According to him, his ministry supports the efforts in turtle conservation as it is seen to be able to increase public’s awareness towards the sustainability of turtle population in Sabah.

Meanwhile, Senior Lecturer at UMS Borneo Marine Research Institute, Dr. Pushpa M. Palaniappan said about 700 green turtles and hawksbill turtle were tagged for the purpose of research around the areas of Mabul and Sipadan Islands.

“As of now, 150 turtle have been tagged at Mabul Island and 535 at Sipadan Island which are estimated to be between eight and 20 years old,” he said. Also present at the function was the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research and Innovation) UMS, Prof. Dr. Shahril Yusof. - FL

By: Faezah Mohamad Dun
Photo: Suzeanywati Gasinin
                                                                                                                                                        Information and Media Section, Corporate Relations Division

THURSDAY, 23 MAY – Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) researchers once again showed a commendable achievement when they successfully won six gold and seven silver in the International Invention, Innovation & Technology Exhibition (ITEX) 2013 recently.

The medals were obtained through 14 researches contested at the exhibition which was held at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre (KLCC), Kuala Lumpur.

The researchers who contributed gold were Assoc. Prof. Dr. Chye Fook Yee with his research entitled ‘An Innovation Method for Dehydrated Fruit with Probiotics’; Assoc. Prof. Dr. Maher Fouad Sefein with his research called ‘A Simulator for Nasal Packing Procedures Management Of Nasal Bleeding’ and Assoc. Prof. Dr. Muhammad Iftikhar – ‘Modified Impact Factor (MiF) at Specialty Level With Colour Coding.’

Also contributing to gold was Assoc. Prof. Dr. Balan Rathakrishnan with his research entitled ‘Psychiatricsoftools: Mental Health Assessment Tools via Online’; Dr. Tan Choon Keong – ‘Creative Personality Analyser’ (CPA) and Aq. Ahmad Mohd. Yunus with his research called ‘UMS TT Blade.’

As for the silver medals, two were obtained through Dr. Patricia Matanjun. The other silver medallists were Dr. Mohamad Nizam Nazarudin, Dr. Rosalyn R. Porle, Dr. Sivakumar Kumaresan, Dr. Rachel Fran Mansa and Kenneth Teo Tze Kin.

UMS Deputy Vice-Chancellor of Research and Innovation, Prof. Dr. Shahril Yusof were also present to inject support and offered his congratulations to the success of all researchers who brought honour to UMS. He hoped that this success would continue at national and international levels in future.

ITEX 2013 is an international exhibition organised by the Malaysian Invention and Design Society (MINDS) for the 24^th time in collaboration with the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation and the Ministry of Education Malaysia. – FL

By: Salbinous Saribun
Souce: Mohd. Aiddy Suffian Abd. Rashid, PPI

                                                                                                                               Information and Media Section, Corporate Relations Division

TUESDAY, 21 MAY - Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) emerged champions at the recent Sabah Technical Institutions Football Championship (PKK). UMS defeated host PKK with a goal of 1-0 at the finals.

UMS, as the invited team started their game with Politeknik Sandakan (PSS) with a score of 3-0. This winning streak continued when they narrowly defeated Institut Kemahiran Mara (IKM) before trouncing the team of Institut Kemahiran Belia Negara (IKBN) with a score of 4-0.

The game between UMS and PKK was full of action when both teams were in attacking mode. However, at the second half, UMS changed their tactics and successfully controlled the game by their attacks right through the opponent’s goal. The first goal came during the second half when the replacement player wearing jersey number 21, Andi Habbibi Ambo pushed the ball that was sent in through a corner shot by Memet Kaya which defeated PKK thus lifting UMS as the champions.

PKK took the second spot whilst third place went to PSS. IKBN and IKM each took the forth and fifth placings.

Meanwhile, the Head Coach of UMS team David Johnny was satisfied with the showmanship of his players throughout the championship. He said that the championship was in preparation for the forthcoming Borneo Higher Institutions Football League Championship which will end in the middle of June. At the championship, UMS team proved their prowess when they were declared champions, winning all their matches.

Source: Sports Science Programme, SPPS

                                                                                                                              Information and Media Section, Corporate Relations Division

MONDAY, 20 MAY – The Sports Science Programme, School of Education and Social Development (SPPS) Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) continues to spearhead research on rugby referees in Malaysia with various researches done headed by the head of the programme, Dr. Mohamad Nizam Nazarudin. Recently, Dr. Mohamad who is also the former international rugby referee and three UMS Sport Science undergraduate students conducted research on 7-a side rugby coaches in the state.

According to Dr. Mohamad Nizam, the research was aimed at comparing the rate pulse and length covered by a referee when refereeing a rugby championship besides observing their movement patterns. He said the research priority was to value the needs of a rugby referee who was refereeing a championship formulating a strategy on good judging.

“This research was done due to some grouses by players and team managers on the performance of rugby referees. Hence, my research team and I hope that this research would be a fruitful contribution towards the rugby sports especially to the referee of this sport in Malaysia,” he further added.

Dr. Nizam who is the international rugby referee evaluator said the research was done on the four main referees in the state who had vast knowledge in the field of rugby in Malaysia including refereeing at the Malaysian School Sports Council (MSSM) and the Asean Rugby Football Union (ARFU). According to him, the apparatus used in this research is known as the Polar Personal Trainer RC3, GPS, a device that uses the technology of pulse detector, length and running pattern affixed to the chest and leg.

In the meantime, one of the referees, Vencant Yakun said the research was important to ascertain the referee’s performance of the said event when refereeing in a championship. He said each referee should own this device so that they can gauge for themselves their own performance as the device is seen as an important tool to assess their physical fitness and the health level of rugby referees.

Another referee, Andreas Hendricus thought that the research using the said device was interesting because the data can be seen as soon as the championship was over. Hence, he hoped that the efforts should be continued so that this sport can be improved further in future.

Meanwhile, all three Science Sports Programme students who assisted in this research held that this research was one of the branches for knowledge which was new to them. Besides acquiring experience as a researcher, Ericson Gustin, Azizul Lawrence and Almah Darus also hoped that they would be given the trust and guidance from Dr. Nizam to conduct future research on rugby.

Besides the research, Dr.Nizam also conducts research on judges’ performance predictor factor in his PhD thesis. His invention and innovation in producing the device to help with rugby referee training to obtain recognition and also won Silver medal in the Invention Competition (PEREKA) 2012 and Silver medal at the national level through the International Invention, Innovation and Technology Exhibition (ITEX 2013). The success helped raise UMS’ name as the first referee research centre in Malaysia. – FL

Source: Sport Science Programme, SPPS
                                                                                                                                Information and Media Section, Corporate Relations Division