THURSDAY, 13 OCTOBER – Construction of the Azman Hashim UMS Gallery, another iconic landmark in Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) will commence early next year.

This was announced during a meeting between representative from Tan Sri Azman Hashim Foundation, Senior General Manager, AmCorp, Mohd Fadzil Abdul Hamid, to the Vice-Chancellor of Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS), Professor Datuk Dr. Mohd Harun Abdullah, recently.

Mohd Fadzil also gave a briefing on the construction of the Azman Hashim UMS Gallery as officially announced during the ‘Syarahan Kinabalu’ with Tan Sri Azman Hashim, and a ground breaking ceremony held on 7 October last year.

Fully sponsored by the Azman Hashim Foundation, construction of the RM15 million art gallery project would take 18 months to complete.

Set to become an iconic landmark of the university, the gallery would be built facing Likas Bay and would have a panoramic view of Kota Kinabalu City.  The building would include a circular structure characterised by an open and closed exhibition hall with corridors.  There would also be seminar rooms and a conservatory area constructed on the upper floor.

Held at The HoteLab of the Faculty of Business, Economics and Accountancy (FPEP), the meeting was also attended by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research and Innovation), Prof. Dr. Shahril Yusof; Dean of the Faculty of Humanities, Arts and Heritage, Prof. Dr. Ismail Ibrahim, and Dean of FPEP, Associate Professor Dr. Raman Noordin. – FL

Source: Sarlona Gindug, FPEP

WEDNESDAY, 12 OCTOBER – Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) Vice-Chancellor, Professor Datuk Dr. Mohd Harun Abdullah made a suggestion to have the university’s financial management team focus on expenses that gave impact to the Key Performance Indicators (KPI) of the university.

He said, with the unstable economic situation of the country, UMS should be ready with the possibility of budget cuts or restrictions on warrants made even though the Ministry of Higher Education had promised a ceiling grant allocation of RM323 million to UMS.

“UMS Expenditure for 2016 approved in the Board of Directors (BOD)  Meeting was RM415 million.

“The Ministry of Education Malaysia (MoE) only approved grants totaling RM315.9 million, of which about 11% equivalent to RM39.7 million were cut.

“This means, for the year 2016 we have used RM99 million of internal resources comprised mainly from tuition fees, to cater to our expenditure.

“Thus, the university’s management should gear towards helping to improve the quality of teaching and learning (P&P) including publications and research, and expenses that are not related and are not contributing to the university’s excellence especially at faculties should be reduced,” he said.

He said this in his opening speech at the UMS Expense Management Workshop 2017 delivered by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic and International) UMS, Prof. Dr. D Kamarudin D Mudin at the Galeri, this morning.

He added that UMS emphasised on value for money and prudent spending as stipulated in the Treasury Circular No. 3.2/2014 Guidelines on Prudent Spending in Controlling Public Expenses.

“We have seen positive results from the austerity measures undertaken since 2014.

“We now need to move to a new phase, to emphasise on revenue generation through enhancing income generation at JFPIU level and achieving new income generation methods such as expanding alumni activities, wakaf and endowment, as well as industry collaboration towards financial sustainability,” he said.

Acting Bursar, Zallifah Shadan also presented a briefing on the performances of each department, and suggestions on covering future deficits.

More than 30 staff comprising heads of departments and their officers attended the workshop that ends tomorrow. – (fl)

Photo: Suzeanywati Gasinin

TUESDAY, 11 OCTOBER – The Corporate Relations Exco, Student Welfare Committee (JAKMAS) of Residential College E recently organised the forth series of school adoption programme with Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Tandek Kota Marudu.

The two-day programme was a continuation of the previous series with the school involving 48 committee members of Residential College E and 40 participants comprising form four and five students.

According to the Principal of College E, Dr. Syahruddin Awang Ahmad when contacted said, the programme aimed at giving exposure to UMS students in the aspects of humanitarian and community awareness.

“We share and give exposures on the life as an undergrad to the secondary school students so they would be better prepared when they enter university in future,” he said.

He added that the programme was a strong medium between UMS and the school to disseminate on the direction and education of the nation.

Amongst the activities that have been implemented included Group Training (LDK), motivational activities and other activities that involved building of self esteem.

Also present was the Deputy Principal of Residential College E, Mohd Hilmey Saili. – (fl)

Source: JAKMAS Residential College E

TUESDAY, 11 OCTOBER – A collaboration between Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) and Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris (UPSI) had resulted in the publication of a book on Sabah ethnics, ‘Tinimungan Tangon Kadazandusun’.

The book was written by senior lecturers of the Faculty of Language and Communication UPSI, Minah Sintian and Rosliah Kiting was the first product of a Memorandum of Understanding signed between UMS and UPSI earlier this year.

The opening ceremony was officiated by the Minister of Tourism, Culture and Environment Sabah, Datuk Seri Panglima Masidi Manjun during the Borneo Book Fair 2016 at 1Borneo, Kota Kinabalu on Saturday.

Also launched was another book entitled, ‘The Borneo Heritage Trail: Travel Notes Series 1’, written by lecturers from the Faculty of Humanities, Arts and Heritage (FKSW) UMS, Professor Dr. Ismail Ibrahim, Dr. Humin Jusilin, Dr. Zaimie Sahibil and Dr. Mohamad Puad Bebit.

Meanwhile, Datuk Seri Panglima Masidi called for more publications on Sabah ethnic stories be expanded and continued.

“The cooperation between UMS and UPSI in publishing works on Kadazandusun folk stories are highly appreciated to preserve this heritage.

“It is important to document history, culture and social life of the multi-ethnic community of this state to be shared with the public,” he said.

Meanwhile, Vice-Chancellor of UMS, Professor Datuk Dr Mohd Harun Abdullah in his speech delivered by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research and Innovation), Professor Dr Shahril Yusof said, the Borneo Book Fair this year featured 68 booths with 49 exhibitors from local and abroad.

“The Borneo Book Fair not only showcases various titles and genres, but also provide opportunities and space for local small entrepreneurs to open retail space to showcase their products,” he said.

Also present at the ceremony were the Deputy Vice-Chancellor of Research and Innovation UPSI, Prof. Dato’ Dr. Noraini Idris; Director of UMS Press, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Asmady Idris; Director of UPSI Press, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nasir Nayan; Deputy Director of Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka, Noraini Abdul Hamid; and Principal Assistant Director of Academic Management Sector, State Education Department Sabah, Mohd Fazli Abdul Rozan. – (fl)

Photo: Suzeanywati Gasinin