TUESDAY, 02 JULY – Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) welcomed the visit by the Malaysian Armed Forces (ATM) delegation, the main committee, commandant officers and cadet officers who will be commissioned, to a get-together dinner in conjunction with the 32^nd Reserve Officers Training Unit (PALAPES) Commissioning this Saturday.

UMS Vice-Chancellor, Kept (K) Prof. Datuk Dr. Mohd. Harun Abdullah said the mandate given by ATM to UMS to be the host this time is received enthusiastically and UMS will ensure the smooth flow of the grand ceremony as well as ensuring that its objective is achieved.   

“As a concerned Public Institution of Higher Learning (IPTA), UMS has always been supporting and helping in producing human resource in the field of military service and officers who are not only excellent academically but also in their personality,” he said.

He said the high level of discipline and moral values added with good personality and a commendable leadership were among the criteria of each cadet officers to someday be a graduate of high quality and a valuable asset to religion, race and the nation.

The Lahad Datu intrusion tragedy was an act that could help push the cadet officers to shoulder their responsibilities and to ensure that there will not be another intrusion from outsiders.

“Let the young play their role in ensuring safety to this nation without relying on foreign powers that might take advantage of the situation.  We are able to stand on our own and be on par with other developing countries from the aspect of military and the safety of our country,” Datuk Harun further added.

The dinner was packed with dance presentation and singing by students of the School of Arts Studies UMS, and local Sabah artist, Felix Agus.  Also present were the Director of the Planning and Development Management Headquarters Army Training Brig. Gen. Dato’ Abu Musa Hj. A. Rahman and Senior Officers of the University. - FL

By: Faezah Mohamad Dun
Photo: Musaab Umair

MONDAY, 1 JULY - A total of 37 university student leaders from the ASEAN nations participated in the “UNESCO Natural Heritage Discovery: Mount Kinabalu Leadership Challenge, Appreciation and Experience 2013” programme.

UMS Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research and Innovation), Prof. Dr. Shahril Yusof said out of the 37 student leaders, 12 leaders were students from Indonesia, Singapore, Thailand and the Philippines.

“Besides that, 25 students were from local universities such as Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia, Universiti Malaysia Perlis, Universiti Malaysia Pahang, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, Universiti Teknikal Malaysia Melaka, Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris, Universiti Islam Antarabangsa Malaysia, Universiti Malaysia Sabah, Universiti Pertahanan Nasional Malaysia, Universiti Sultan Zainal Abidin, Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia and Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia,” he said.

According to him, the programme which started on 28 June and ends on 7 July is a collaboration between the Policies and International Relations Division, Ministry of Education Malaysia and UMS UNESCO Club. Prof. Dr. Shahril was representing UMS Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Datuk Dr. Mohd. Harun Abdullah at the official opening ceremony of the programme.

He added that the aim of the 10 day programme was to expose young leaders from local universities and ASEAN on leadership and appreciation to natural heritage.

“The three components of the programme which consists of activities within UMS and around Kota Kinabalu, Homestay in Kg. Sinisian, Kundasang and climbing of Mount Kinabalu, 13,455 above sea level, aimed at exposing and teaching the participants on ways to tackle challenges, appreciation towards the Almighty for the natural heritage such as the UNESCO site at Taman Negara Kinabalu and to experience the traditional way of life of the locals in Sabah,” he said.

Also present at the opening ceremony were the Secretary-General of the Malaysian National Commission for UNESCO, Mohd Sallehudin Hassan; Special Officer to the Secretary-General of the Ministry of Education Malaysia, Assoc. Prof. Abdul Razak Ahmad; and the Director of Policies and International Relations, Ministry of Education Malaysia, Nazri Sulaiman. – FL

By: Mohd Affzanizam Mohd Amin
Photo: Johaidi Ismail
                                                                                                                                Information and Media Section, Corporate Relations Division

FRIDAY, 28 JUNE – An international conference on Arts Presentation As A Creative Industry in Asia (PACIA) 2013 organised by the UMS School of Arts Studies which had registered 140 including participants from 10 different countries, would help in promoting Malaysia especially Sabah which is rich in art and culture resources.

Datuk Masidi Manjun, the Minister of Tourism, Culture and Environment Sabah hoped that international activities such as this would be intensified to generate growth and income for industries such as tourism.

“The PACIA 2013 Conference is in line with the aim of promoting the country through its rich resources, which is culture and arts.  It is hoped that this conference would be able to produce a transformation for the Performing Arts in Sabah to attract not only locals but international tourists as well,” he said.  His speech was read by his representative, the Assistant Minister of Tourism, Culture and Environment Sabah, Datuk Kamarlin Ombi at the opening ceremony of the 3^rd PACIA Conference 2013 at the 1Borneo Grand Ballroom.

He added that the government would assist in the improvement and the development of performing arts in Malaysia through some grants in the field of arts.

“Grants totalling up to RM4 million have been allocated to the country’s arts enthusiasts for the development of performing arts.  This allocation not only can alleviate the financial burden of local artists, but to also encourage the search for new talents in Malaysia,” he added.

UMS Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic and Internationalisation), Prof. Dr. Shariff A. K. Omang who represented the Vice-Chancellor of UMS, Prof. Datuk Dr. Mohd. Harun Abdullah said the 3^rd PACIA Conference was a platform for the sharing of ideas from art enthusiasts which would generate the future of arts and culture in Malaysia especially in Sabah.  He added that the organising of this conference is in line with the university’s strategic plan to maintain excellence towards internationalisation.

“My hope is that this conference would be able to assist researchers, students and arts enthusiasts in exploring and conduct their researches relating to the creative industry to help uplift the standard of the country’s culture and arts into the world arena,” he said.

The 3 day conference also featured specialists in the Performing Arts and Culture; among them were Prof. Hatta Azad Khan, Prof. Tan Sooi Beng, Aida Redza, Prof. Ding Choo Ming and Prof. Jonathan Holmes as the main speaker. - FL

By: Mohd. Affzanizam Mohd. Amin
Photo: Ramdan Salleh Nain

                                                                                                              Information and Media Section, Corporate Relations Division
 

THURSDAY, 27 JUNE – World Ocean Day 2013 is able to create awareness to the public on the roles of ocean towards human lives, and the importance of supporting the care for ocean and protecting its ecosystem.

UMS Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Datuk Dr. Mohd.  Harun Abdullah said that it was the community’s obligation to protect the ocean because it covers 71 percent of the earth’s surface and is the source of livelihood to human.

“The ocean is closely related to our everyday lives, no matter where we are.  We should appreciate and protect the ocean which gives different meanings to each and everyone of us,” he said.  His speech text was read by his representative, Prof. Dr. Felix Tongkul, the Director of the Research and Innovation Centre when officiating the World Ocean Day celebration at the Borneo Marine Research Institute (IPMB) at the Aquarium and Marine Museum, UMS.

He praised the efforts by IPMB in producing a bulletin on ‘The Ocean: Facts & View’ in conjunction with the celebration which begun on 8 June.

“I understand that this bulletin has all the facts on ocean and scientists’ views meant to stir serious minds and to put forward a strong message in protecting the ocean”.

“With UMS being an EcoCampus, activities such as this should be intensified because such effort runs parallel with the practice of sustainable within the campus, thus supporting the role of UMS EcoCampus,’ he added further.

Among some of the activities held in conjunction with World Ocean Day 2013 celebration was the launching of the bulletin ‘The Ocean; Facts & View’, official opening of the ‘Ocean Outreach Corner’ at the Marine Aquarium, essay writing competition with the theme ‘The Ocean That We Want’, and oath-signing ‘We Accept the Ocean As the Main Component of Earth System and Committed to Play the Role of Leadership for the Ocean That We Want for the Sake of the Present and Future Generations’. - FL

By: Mohd. Affzanizam Mohd. Amin
Photo: Yusdi Ismail, IPMB