FRIDAY, 29 JULY – Being committed and having a clear direction are two pillars that were the bases to the success achieved by the Association of Management and Professional Staff Non-Academic UMS (PPUMS) in ensuring that the objectives of the association were achieved.

According to the Vice-Chancellor of Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS), Professor Datuk Dr. Mohd Harun Abdullah, during the 11 years since PPUMS was established, it was obvious that the association had a clear direction other than being committed to the association’s objectives, enabling PPUMS continue to be active and brought about benefit to its members.

“I urged PPUMS to be prompt to remain relevant as an association to be reckoned with, by its members, amongst officers and other UMS staff,” he said when officiating the closing ceremony of the 10^th Annual General Meeting (AGM) of PPUMS held at the Banquet Hall, Dewan Canselor, UMS.  Also present was the Registrar of UMS, No’man Hj. Ahmad; Chief Librarian, Dyg Rukiah Ag Amit, and President of PPUMS, Azmi Jumat.

Datuk Harun added, besides ensuring the welfare of its members, PPUMS should also emphasise on improvements in helping UMS deliver its policies approved by the university, besides acting as a role model to support staff.

At the AGM, PPUMS Executive Committee presented report on the latest development of the association, while adding additional proposals for discussion.

The meeting ended with an Aidilfitri reception that was attended by all PPUMS members and its guest of honour. – (fl)

THURSDAY, 28 JULY – Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) joined the #Meriah Bah Raya in conjunction with the Sabah Federal Civil Service Staff gathering at the Sabah Federal Government Administrative Complex (KPKPS), recently.

The event was officiated by the Federal Secretary, Datuk Borhan Dolah.

UMS was represented by the Corporate Relations Division (BPK) that served local-made biscuits, and a kampung-style booth decoration.

UMS media survey found that all staff of KPKPS and the public participated in the joyous occasion.

Even with the ethnic and religious diversity, the event showed the harmony and peace among the community in Sabah celebrating together the ‘Meriah Bah Raya’. – SM (fl)

THURSDAY, 28 JULY – Vice-Chancellor of Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS), Professor Datuk Dr. Mohd Harun Abdullah always emphasises on teamwork, discipline and harmony in the workplace to ensure UMS continue to move forward.

He said, he did not want factionalism exists in UMS as this was not only a bad habit and a hindrance to having close working relationship with colleagues but also impedes the university’s efforts to attain success.

“Knowledge is the basis to all progress and achievements of an organisation, and I believe the positive attitude which I mentioned earlier would enable UMS’ direction be realised,” he said.

Datuk Harun said the university not only produce intelligent individuals, but more importantly produce Malaysians who live in unity harmoniously in their diversity.

“We must also have collaborations with the local, national and international  industry players,” he added.

He said this when asked to comment during an exclusive interview with the Borneo Post at his office recently on his expectations in relations to bringing UMS in achieving success,. – SS (fl)

TUESDAY, 26 JULY – Researchers from Biotechnology Research Institute (BRI), Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) have succeeded in cracking the genetic code of both the internationally renowned MD-2 Pineapple and the local Babagon variety. 

“The genome is difficult to unravel due to its high level of duplication and complexity,” said Associate Professor Dr. Vijay Kumar, the lead principal investigator of the project.

The team had spent three years piecing together bit by bit the almost 526 million nucleotides that made up the pineapple DNA.

“With the completion of the genome, it is now possible to further improve the agronomic traits of the crop.

“This puts UMS in the forefront ofpineapple genetics and breeding,” said BRI Deputy Director, Dr. Zarina Amin.

Using the completed pineapple genome as a reference, UMS researchers found significant regulation of a protein which was involved in the biosynthesis of ethylene during fruit ripening in pineapples.   This finding was significant as it was thought that the hormone did not play a crucial role in the process.                                                                                                                                                           

UMS had been working closely with a Malaysian-based bioinformatics company, which was providing training and bioinformatics support for this project.  They also developed the novoLR^TM package to assist in genome assembly using hybrid technology.

The MD-2 is currently the leading commercial pineapple variety globally due to its superiority in colour, sweetness, flavour and uniformity in size. – FL

Source: BRI