TUESDAY, 5 JUNE – A total of 11 third year students of International Relations (HA15), Universiti Malaysia Sabah from the Faculty of Humanity, Arts and Heritage, have successfully conducted a program named as ‘Introduction to CPR and Natural Disaster Preparedness at Stairway to Hope in Luyang, recently.

Project Manager, Muhammad Nazirrudin Roslan said that Stairway to Hope is an alternative school that consist of majorly Filipinos students.

“The program which was participator a total of 30 students ranging from 13 to 20 years old gives them a basic education on First Aid and increase their awareness on natural disaster.

“The knowledge and skills gained from this program will be a great aid for the students in the near future,” he said in a statement today.

According to Nazirrudin, the program consists of two sessions; begin with presentation and practically learning about CPR, follow by begin with presentation and practically learning on Natural Disaster.

“Learning theory alone is not enough; therefore the students were thought practically on the proper technique to CPR.

“Meanwhile the learning on Natural Disaster aimed to give the students awareness and basic knowledge about earthquake to prepare and educate them the best course of action during an earthquake,” he said.

Also present at the event was the founder of Stairway to Hope, Marilou Salgatar Chin.

The work of making dictionaries describes impossibility because it is a daunting task to be carried out specifically by those from cultures which do not have the advantage of established and extensive documented history of literacy and lexical recording of their languages.

The task of compiling a document of indigenous lexicon for the use of the indigenous communities or for basic documentation so outsiders can learn about an indigenous community’s language is no mean feat. Yet for two strongly motivated individuals, that is what they have done on their own with minimal assistance. Their efforts to document and preserve their indigenous languages into ethnic dictionaries were shared in the second Brown Bag Seminar for Languages and Linguistics recently at Bilik Mesyuarat Utama, PPIB. The speakers, Datuk Cosmas Abah and Mr. Ricky Ganang, indeed provided powerful motivation for the younger generation interested in ethnic dictionaries documentation.

With the theme “Challenges and the Future of Ethnic Dictionaries in Sabah’, both speakers spoke on their individual journeys of developing their respective ethnic dictionaries which started as far back as 30 years ago. The audience were privileged to listen to first-hand information in the making of ethnic dictionary.

In his paper titled ‘Challenges of making the Dusunic dictionary and the future of unwritten languages’, Datuk Cosmas outlined the difficult challenges he faced in making the Kadazan Dictionary (in Tangaa Papar) which was published in 2016. The dictionary has 334 pages and contains four sections (Kadazan root words register, botanical terms, zoological terms, and English-Kadazan-Malay dictionary). It is a personal satisfaction to overcome the challenges given that Datuk Cosmas is an engineer by training and he had to learn linguistics on his own at the beginning of his venture.

The second speaker, Mr. Ricky Ganang, recalled how he started his Lundayeh – English dictionary before the age of computers and word processors. With basic pen and paper notetaking methods to the more systematically prepared present volume, the Lundayeh – English dictionary is a work of passion and love for his language which he feels is his contribution to his indigenous community. In summary, despite the challenges which are present in making dictionaries for indigenous language, the future is a positive one.

The speakers gave their talks to a full house with representatives from local partners such as SIL Sabah, the Kadazandusun Cultural Association, Sabah State Library, IPG Kent, Sabah Cultural Board, as well as students and academic staff from UMS. 

The Brown Bag Seminar Series features local and international speakers sharing and highlighting their research in the fields of languages and linguistics - two very rich sources of research data on Sabah's indigenous communities.

TUESDAY, 8 MAY  – An ‘Educational Visit and University-Industry Interaction Programme’ was successfully conducted yesterday when 25 students taking tourist guide licensing course from Borneo Tourism Institute (BTI) visited Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) under the coordination with the UMS EcoCampus Management Centre.

The visitation and interaction programme was aimed at preparing the students with accurate information about UMS and its campus sustainability concept, named EcoCampus concept, besides introducing the students to various unique tourist attractions within the campus on nature, scenic views, architecture, galleries and museums, and local cultural heritage.

“UMS EcoCampus concept is very encompassing to include not just creating an eco-friendly higher learning environment for our undergraduates and postgraduates from all over the world towards a green lifestyle, but also providing a fresh tourist attraction for the tourism industry in Sabah based on a green campus initiative,” said Deputy Director of the EcoCampus Management Centre, Kueh Boon Hee during his briefing to the BTI students.

“The sharing of green knowledge by UMS equips tourist guide students from BTI with a special set of know-how that is in line with Sabah State Government plan – Sabah Long Term Strategic Action Plan (Sabah LEAP) 2016-2035, and even global agenda – Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 2015-2030 under the United Nations,” added Kueh.

Subsequently, the programme gave the students better understanding on the principles and framework pertaining to responsible and sustainable tourism which relates to Sabah LEAP and SDGs, as well as the Region Specific Tourist Guide Course being undertaken by them.

The students from BTI who will become licensed tourist guides upon passing the course in August 2018 were hosted at the EcoCampus Visitor Information Centre (EVIC) within the EcoCampus Park situated at Block C, Faculty of Science and Natural Resources.

EVIC functions as a first-stop information centre for tourists to UMS that contributes to the formation and enhancement of UMS reputation to the general public, locally and internationally.

After the briefing, they were brought around the park, and given a try of the electric pedal assisted bicycles (EPABs) that is a mean of green transportation in the campus for UMS staff, students, and tourists.

EPABs are indeed an effective way to reduce our carbon footprint in the environment we can use the bicycles to move around with ease, fun, and environmental conscience! Next, the students were brought to visit two of UMS’ 7 existing galleries and museums, namely UMS Museum and Galeri BORNEENSIS.

UMS Museum which is situated at the Chancellery Building exhibits the historical journey of UMS since the beginning in 1994, and shows the amount of natural environment that the university has opted to safeguard till now. On the other hand, Galeri BORNEENSIS at the Institute for Tropical Biology and Conservation showcases the wonders of Sabah and Borneo’s terrestrial biodiversity from insects to frogs and toads, and to the endemic Bornean Pygmy Elephant.

BTI students were impressed with the EcoCampus concept, and UMS initiatives and facilities under the concept. Many expressed their surprise and awe.

The half-day programme concluded with BTI students sharing their thoughts and suggestions with Kueh and his EcoCampus Management Centre team. Present during the Programme was BTI Training Coordinator, Janice Hiew.

FRIDAY, 20 APRIL – The Housewives and Women Staff Club Universiti Malaysia Sabah (KESUMBA) recently paid a courtesy call to Universiti Malaysia Terengganu (UMT) at Kuala Terengganu and Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM) Dungun and Shah Alam branches respectively.

The 10 member delegation was headed by its President, Datin Roha Asmara, wife of the Vice-Chancellor of Universiti Malaysia Sabah,  Prof. Datuk Dr. D Kamarudin D Mudin.

On hand to greet them were Exco and members of the Women’s Association of UMT, MUTIARA.

The visit to UMT included the Transparent Fish Secrets Exhibition at the Research Gallery, Institute of Oceanography and Environment, and the Hatchery Complex under the Institute  of Tropical Aquaculture (AKUATROP).

The delegation was also greeted by the Vice-Chancellor of UMT, Prof. Dato’ Dr. Nor Aieni Haji Mokhtar who joined them for lunch whilst touching on the role of women and women empowerment in entrepreneurship.

The delegation then proceeded to UiTM Dungun in the afternoon and were received by the Exco and members of PEWANI, UiTM Dungun branch.

They were briefed on the future plans and activities of PEWANI where KESUMBA returned the same and shared fruitful discussions before heading to MyUFM, the campus radio station of UiTM Dungun.

The delegation also visited UiTM Shah Alam on the second day of their trip where they were welcomed by the Deputy President of PEWANI, Assoc. Prof. Datin Fadzilah Bt Azam Ahmad and other Exco members.

They were also briefed on PEWANI Shah Alam’s future plans and past activities before proceeding to its campus radio station, UFM where the President of KESUMBA was interviewed focussing on the club’s activities and plans.

The delegation ended their visit at UiTM by visiting GESTURZ (Galeri Seni Tuanku Nur Zahirah), a gallery that showcases various collections such as ceramics, paintings, sculpture, metal works, fashion, textiles, and jewelleries.