TUESDAY, 07 AUGUST - Our ocean is not a dumping site for people’s debris. Surplus human activities have severely affected the marine life in the oceans by releasing harmful substances such as plastic, industrial and agricultural waste, and chemical particles into the ocean.

It is a disturbing fact to know that even though people are aware of the state of marine pollution we are facing, they still continue to use plastic; the most common man-made element found in the ocean.

A recent beach clean-up programme under a joint marine conservation project between the Borneo Marine Research Institute, UMS and Sutera Harbour Resort; found that the biggest source of pollution in the ocean came directly from the land based sources.

“Based on the rubbish collected, most of the trashes are produced locally. Rubbish were thrown into the river and carried out to the ocean.

“Some rubbish will sink to the bottom of the sea, and some will be taken by the tides to the beaches or mangrove areas,” said Associate Professor Dr. Juanita Joseph during her presentation of the Beach Combing survey findings for the Sustaining Kota Kinabalu’s Marine Heritage project, here on Friday.

She also pointed out that some of the rubbish was suspected to be dumped directly into the ocean or on the beach.

“In fact, thousands of tonnes of waste and rubbish are dumped into the ocean on a daily basis,” she added.

She revealed that from the survey, for every 100-metre of the beach clean-up namely Pulau Sulug, Kampung Kibagu, Sepanggar and the public beach near Sutera Harbour Resort; the most common waste was plastic. 

“There were 6,500 plastic mineral water bottles and 8,000 pieces of styrofoams collected during the beach clean-up. We even collected 100 diapers. Plastic bottles and diapers take up to 450 years to biodegrade and styrofoams appears to last forever; it is a non- biodegradable product.

“What is really disturbing to me is that most of the plastic wastes were single-use plastics. This is something that we can change by reducing the usage of single-use plastic into more environmentally friendly reusable alternatives,” she said.

More than 130 volunteers from Jebsen & Jessen (SEA), Trash Hero Borneo, Kota Kinabalu City Hall, Universiti Malaysia Sabah and the public took part in this beach clean-up. The effort managed to remove at least 1,000 kg of litter from 3 beaches.

Meanwhile, according to Dr. Chen Cheng Ann, the Head of Marine Science Programme in Universiti Malaysia Sabah; “the earth is covered with 70% water and it is common for people to assume that all rubbish and debris will be diluted or dissolved in the water.

“But in reality that is not the case; especially with plastic, it never disappears.

“It is imperative for people to know that plastic is a significant threat to the entire marine life,” he said.

He stressed that even though the debris and rubbish dumped into the ocean are released kilometers away from land, they are washed up to beaches and coastal areas, which affect the marine biodiversity.

“Plastic pollution is one of the most serious threats to the ocean. It is harmful to the environment as it does not decompose easily and is often perceived as food by marine animals.

“Change is inevitable and we need to take action now. We need to be responsible human beings by working together to protect our oceans by beating plastic pollution,” he said.

TUESDAY, 07 AUGUST - Impaired water quality is a global issue. It is in fact a growing problem especially when there is proof of limited resources for drinking, domestic use as well as harming the ecosystems.

According to Associate Professor Dr. Teruaki Yoshida the Head of the Unit for Harmful Algal Bloom Studies (UHABS), Borneo Marine Research Institute, Universiti Malaysia Sabah; the data findings from the water samples collected over a plankton survey at Likas Bay show high dominance of a single phytoplankton species - Protoperidinium.

“Water impairment often affects marine biodiversity. Eutrophication of the water exerts pressure on phytoplankton populations allowing the intensive growth of certain harmful-toxin producing species or nuisance blooms that may create problems in the ecosystem and public health."

“When there is a single phytoplankton species dominating in an area, it may indicate deterioration in the water quality,” he revealed the findings during the presentation of the Plankton Survey for the Sustaining Kota Kinabalu’s Marine Heritage project - a joint marine conservation project between Universiti Malaysia Sabah and Sutera Harbour Resort, here on Friday.

Dr. Teruaki further stated that it is imperative for people not to increase the release of nutrients in the water.

“Excessive nutrient input into the sea is known to trigger phytoplankton blooms. The sources of nutrients are usually derived from coastal human activities and from agricultural and industrial wastes,” he said.

When asked the level of water quality in Likas Bay, Dr. Teruaki said more studies need to be done.

“To evaluate the present water condition in Likas Bay, it is essential to monitor the changes in environmental variables and indicator species over a certain period before any concrete judgement can be made,” he said.

He also said that the water quality will further deteriorate if there are no improvements of wastewater treatment systems.

“The responsibility by the government to improve our wastewater treatment system is important.

“The discharge of inadequately treated wastewater may cause adverse impacts such as water pollutions, spread of waterborne diseases, decrease in tourism potential; just to name a few,” he said. 

Likas Bay has become a popular recreational beach after a vast area of Tanjung Aru Beach has been temporarily closed for a planned development.

ISNIN, 06 OGOS - Kira-kira 1,000 warga Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) menjayakan program Gotong Royong Perdana 2018 yang berlangsung di sekitar UMS baru-baru ini.

Bertemakan “Plogging: Pengalaman Kampus Hijau”, ia merupakan inisiatif bersama Pusat Pengurusan EcoCampus dan Pejabat Canselori UMS.

Acara yang bermula kira-kira pukul 2.30 petang itu, dibahagikan kepada tiga zon pembersihan yang telah ditetapkan mengikut Jabatan, Fakulti, Institut dan Bahagian (JFPIB) UMS.

Ia antara lain dianjurkan bagi meningkatkan keprihatinan dan komitmen keseluruhan warga UMS dan para pemegang taruh terhadap kelestarian, kebersihan dan keselesaan kampus.

Selain itu, ia bagi memupuk gaya hidup sihat, cergas dan ceria dalam kalangan warga UMS dan para pemegang taruh sekali gus mewujudkan dan terus mengekalkan persekitaran kampus UMS yang lestari, bersih, selesa, selamat, sihat dan ceria untuk semua.

Dalam masa yang sama, ia juga bagi mengeratkan lagi ikatan silaturahim sesama warga UMS dan para pemegang taruh dari pelbagai latar belakang dan peringkat perjawatan.

Majlis perasmiannya disempurnakan oleh Timbalan Naib Canselor (Akademik dan Antarabangsa), Prof. Dr. Rasid Mail mewakili Naib Canselor UMS.

Pada program itu, Zon 3 yang terdiri daripada kawasan Fakulti Kejuruteraan, Fakulti Sains dan Sumber Alam, Fakulti Sains Makanan dan Pemakanan,  SUKSIS, Jabatan Pembangunan dan Penyelenggaraan, Pusat Rawatan Warga, Pusat Sukan, PALAPES, Fakulti Perubatan dan Sains Kesihatan, Pusat Pengajian Pascasiswazah, Bahagian Perkhidmatan Akademik dan Kolej Kediaman Excellent diumumkan sebagai penerima pengiktirafan Sebutan Khas Naib Canselor UMS.

Zon itu dipilih selepas mendapat penilaian tertinggi berdasarkan jumlah kutipan sampah sarah, kedinamikan gotong-royong, etika gotong-royong dan indeks kegembiraan gotong-royong.

Hadir sama pada program tersebut Timbalan Pengarah Pusat Pengurusan EcoCampus, Kueh Boon Hee dan Ketua Pejabat Canselori UMS, Stella @ Nurul Martini Gontol.

Untuk rekod, plogging merupakan satu trend terbaharu seantero dunia yang menyaksikan para pencinta alam menggabungkan larian dengan tindakan mengutip sampah sepanjang laluan.

Perkataan plogging adalah gabungan perkataan “jogging” (lari-lari anak) dan  “plocka upp” yang bermaksud mengutip dalam bahasa Sweden.   

JUMAAT, 03 OGOS - Seramai 150 pelajar calon peperiksaan Ujian Penilaian Sekolah Rendah (UPSR) Sekolah Kebangsaan (SK) Malawa, Kota Kinabalu menyertai program Selangkah Ke Menara Gading yang dianjurkan bersama oleh Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) dan sekolah tersebut kelmarin.

Guru Besar Cemerlang SK Malawa, Judin Diana berkata, program sehari yang diadakan di kampus UMS itu bertujuan meningkatkan semangat para pelajar untuk memasuki universiti di samping mendorong untuk meraih pencapaian cemerlang dalam peperiksaan sehingga menjejakkan kaki ke menara gading kelak.

“Antara pengisian program termasuk lawatan sambil belajar ke beberapa kawasan dalam universiti seperti Perpustakaan,  Akuarium dan Muzium Marin, Pantai Pusat Pembangunan Luar (ODEC) dan Institut Biologi Tropika dan Perhutanan,” katanya ketika ditemui media semasa program.

Beliau berkata para pelajar turut mendengar sesi ceramah motivasi bertajuk “Malu Bertanya, Sesat Jalan” yang disampaikan Timbalan Dekan (Kebajikan Pelajar) Pusat Pengajian Pascasiswazah UMS, Dr. Jakaria Dasan.

“Kesemua pelajar nyata begitu bersemangat mendengar motivasi ini yang menggalakkan para pelajar untuk berani bertanya kepada guru-guru sekiranya sesuatu topik dalam pelajaran kurang difahami,” tambah Judin.

Pada ceramah tersebut Dr. Jakaria memaklumkan bahawa kajian mendapati bahawa antara punca kegagalan pelajar memahami dengan jelas topik-topik pelajaran yang diikuti adalah kerana kurang bertanya dengan kata lain pelajar bersikap pasif.

Untuk itu katanya, usaha perlu dilakukan bagi mewujudkan suatu suasana interaktif antara guru dan murid dan antara murid dengan murid.

“Pelajar perlu digalakkan untuk membina soalan dari topik yang diberikan guru. Daripada soalan itu, pelajar perlu menyediakan jawapan-jawapan yang bersesuaian dan berinteraksi sesama mereka dalam satu sesi soal jawab.

“Kaedah ini mampu menjadikan pelajar berasa lebih yakin dan bermotivasi untuk mengutarakan soalan-soalan yang lebih berkualiti kelak,” katanya.

Hadir sama pada program tersebut Penolong Kanan Pentadbiran SK Malawa, Ainah Hj. Damit, kakitangan Jabatan Hal Ehwal Pelajar (HEP) UMS dan 16 Guru Pengiring SK Malawa.