TUESDAY, 16 APRIL – More than 160 local and foreign participants attended the International Malaria Symposium 2013 organised by the School of Medicine (SPU) Universiti Malaysia Sabah starting today.  The symposium was organised at one of the leading hotels in Kota Kinabalu, and serves as a platform for knowledge sharing on the malaria disease which is seen as a world society problem.

The ceremony was officiated by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor Research and Innovation, Prof. Dr. Shahril Yusof representing the Vice-Chancellor of UMS, Prof. Datuk Dr. Mohd. Harun Abdullah.  In his speech he said that health problems caused by malaria is of grave and urgent concern.  He said in the World Malaria Report 2010, it was stated that the malaria disease affected half of the world population, with an estimation of 216 million cases and 655,000 deaths around the world.

According to him, there are four species of malaria found in Malaysia, and Sabah has the highest infection rate.

“Malaria knowlesi is the most common cause of severe malaria in the northeast of Sabah.  It has a three-fold greater risk of severity than the falciparum malaria, and it accounts for the majority of malaria admissions to several district hospitals throughout Sabah and Sarawak,” he said.

He added, in the period 2007-2009, knowlesi infections accounted for 78% of all malaria in Kudat, a total of 172 cases.

“The malaria parasite has the shortest replication period of 24 hour in the red blood cells, and when the parasite load is high, it can lead to severe malaria and malaria death in knowlesi infections.  In 2012, it has been reported that knowlesi infection has caused five deaths in Sabah,” he said in his speech at the official opening ceremony of the symposium with the theme ‘New Challenge and Strategies in Malaria Control’.

Thus he said the organising of the symposium is indeed timely as it gathers experts from all over the world to share their expertise and knowledge.

“Let’s hope that this symposium will uncover the best method to eradicate malaria not only here in Sabah, but all over the world,” he said.

Also present at the function were the Dean of the School of Medicine, Prof. Dr. D Kamarudin D Mudin and the Chairman of the symposium, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Chua Tock Hing.

 
By: Salbinous Saribun/Feria Lee
Photo: Musaab Umair

                                                                                                         Information and Media Section, Corporate Relations Division

MONDAY, 15 APRIL – UMS staff, especially researchers are urged to continue with their activities in research and innovation to ensure that UMS remains as the reference point and well respected within and outside of the country.

The Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Datuk Dr. Mohd. Harun Abdullah said that the Management of the University will always put priority to the provision of good research facilities in efforts to enrich culture and intensify excellence in research and innovation, in line with UMS-Key Research Area 2 (UMS-KRA 2) UMS Strategik Plan 2013-2017.

“Seed money will continue to be made available to young researchers, aside from grants to assist in postgraduate research.  The University will continue to have the grant to protect intelectual property, attend conferences and take part in exhibitions and designs in national and international level,” he said when officiating at the UMS Researchers Award 2012 at Promenade Hotel, Kota Kinabalu.

Datuk Dr. Harun added that intellectual property from research and innovation is an important asset of the university which can generate income when they are successfully commercialised.  Hence, UMS signed a strategic cooperation agreement with the Malaysian Innovation Agency (AIM) in 2012 in efforts to maximise the commercialisation of UMS innovation potential.

“Under this agreement, AIM will assist UMS in the field of Industry Matching, legal advice on intellectual property including the commercialising, and assist in the process of discussions with potential industries.  I hope researchers will take full advantage of this opportunity,” he further added.

The Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research and Innovation), Prof. Dr. Shahril Yusof said the organising of this function is to appreciate and recognise our researchers who made a name for UMS in every level.  He clarified that the recognition such as this would encourage researchers to produce more quality research products which can be commercialised and encouraged the researchers towards research and innovation excellence.

“We hope that researchers will take advantage of this recognition given to them and a push to work harder thus contributes towards improving UMS MyRa score,” he said.

That night saw Associate Prof. Dr. Charles S. Vairappan from the Institute for Tropical Biology and Conservation (IBTP) awarded the Pilot Researcher Award 2012 (Tokoh Penyelidik Malim) which won him a cash reward of RM3,000 and a certificate.  The Model Researcher Award (Anugerah Tokoh Penyelidik) was bagged by Associate Prof. Dr. Clemente Michael Wong from the Biotechnology Research Insitute for the Science Category, and Associate Prof. Dr. Ismail Ali from the School of Social Sciences for the Humanities Category.  Both took home cash prize of RM2,000 and certificate each.  As for the Young Researcher Award (Tokoh Penyelidik Muda) was won by Dr. Mohd. Fadzelly Abu Bakar from the Institute of Tropical Biology and Conservation  (IBTP) in the Science Category whilst for the Humanities Category, it was secured by Ricky Chia Chee Jiun from the School of Business and Economy.  Both took home cash prize of RM1,500 and certificate each.

By: Mohd. Affzanizam Mohd. Amin/Feria Lee

Photos: Suzeanywaty Gasinin

                                                                                                         Information and Media Section, Corporate Relations Division

TUESDAY, 16 APRIL – UMS today signed an agreement with UMSLink-Silverkris Sdn Bhd and META Skills Training Services Sdn Bhd to jointly collaborate on the initiative for human capital development in the Oil & Gas Industry.

This agreement was sealed in a signing ceremony held at the Grand Ballroom of the Magellan Sutera, Sutera Harbour Resort, Kota Kinabalu.  UMS was represented by its Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Student Affairs & Alumni) Assoc. Prof. Datuk Dr. Hj. Kasim Hj. Md. Mansur while UMSLink-Silverkris Sdn Bhd was represented by its Director, Willie Ng and META Skills Training Services Sdn Bhd by its Director & Chief Executive Officer, Dato’ Paduka Udani bin Dato’ Seri Mohamed Daud.  Among the witnesses at the signing ceremony were Datuk Raymond Tan Shu Kiah, the Minister of Industrial Development and Datuk K. Y. Mustafa, the Director of UMSLink Holdings Sdn Bhd.

Through this agreement, the three agencies will collaborate towards the establishment of a Centre of Excellence for Oil & Gas human capital development.  This will promote life-long learning and allow for a structured system where it is possible to progress from various entry levels into skill training, diploma and degree.  For that, META Skills will provide various skill training programmes relevant to Oil & Gas, construction and other industries.  Advanced Diploma and Diploma programmes in Engineering (Oil & Gas Operations) in four disciplines will be offered by TAS Institute of Oil & Gas while UMS will be offering Bachelor degree and Master degree programmes in Engineering.

By: Mohd. Affzanizam Mohd. Amin/Feria Lee

Photos: Johaidi Ismail

                                                                                                       Information and Media Section, Corporate Relations Division

MONDAY, 15 APRIL – Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) sent four teams to the 3^rd MPC Innovative & Creative (KIK) Mini Convention at Promenade Hotel, Kota Kinabalu recently.  The teams comprised the Champion and Runner-up of the 3^rd UMS Innovative & Creative (KIK) Convention 2012.
         
There were DEBUG from the Information Management Division (HRD), Registrar Department, M’TECHS and Dinamik from the School of Medicine (SPU) and RMEC from SPU’s Sikuati, Kudat branch.  The participation of these four teams at this convention which is now known as Team Excellence Sabah Region 2013 Mini Convention proved to be rewarding as all the four teams managed to grab the Gold Award.

Also taking home the Gold Award was the team from Sabah Electricity Sdn Bhd (SESB) namely KIK KREATIF, KIK QAUTEAM and KIK ZERO’N besides other teams from Petronas Chemical Methanol, Labuan namely KIK ROTALINE and KIK EXCHANGER.  The same award was also won by KIK POLIGON from the Land and Survey Department (JUPEM), KIK AVATAR from the Women and Children’s Hospital, Likas and KIK SENI Labuan Corporation.  All recipients of the Gold Award will be competing again in the Team Excellence Sabah and Sarawak Region Convention which will be held on 3-4 July 2013, at Sutera Harbour Resort, Kota Kinabalu.

The Silver Award was won by KIK 1 VISION from the Tawau Hospital and KIK GO ICT from SESB.  The Best Young ICC Award was won by KIK POLIGON from JUPEM, whilst the Most Promising ICC Award was won by KIK KREATIF from SESB.

The KIK Mini Convention which was held for two days saw 14 entries from government and private agencies. – FL

Source: Zainoriah Matnoor

                                                                                                           Information and Media Section, Corporate Relations Division