WEDNESDAY, 02 DECEMBER – Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) through its Visual Arts Technology Programme (PSTV), Faculty of Humanities, Arts and Heritage (FKSW) won 5 film awards in its maiden participation of the 12^th Malaysian Students Creative Contents organised by Universiti Malaysia Kelantan (UMK) and the  National Film Development Corporation Malaysia (FINAS) on 28 November 2015.

UMS’ two entrants through the films ‘Slayer’ and a documentary entitled ‘Angkiluang’, both directed by Mohd Syaiful Reezal Harith when he was in his final year at UMS, turned out to be a meaningful one as both films grabbed the grand prize and other prizes contested.

Slayer, a sci-fi genre film uses computer generated technique and attracted the judges where the film won four awards; best script, best actor, best graphics and Semantic & Symbiosis Innovation.

The film Angkiluang, a documentary featuring a Murut hero and features a nonconforming narrative that combines documentary and drama, grab the grand prize as overall best documentary.

Saiful expressed his gratitude as both his works caught the attention of the jury and proceeded to win several main prizes.

“Both films were produced with the intention to feature different works of movie production by using computer-generated feature and the stories of the people of Sabah as something unique compared to other films.

“Slayer won the Best Visual Effects at the 11^th Mini Film Festival organised by Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS) and the victory in this festival for Best Graphics Category proved that computer –generated feature films has its own specialty,” he said when contacted by media.

Sharing his experience about both films, Syaiful related that the most challenging part in making this film was the budget, where he had to think more creatively himself and the post production such as editing and special effects.

He added that his coursemates assisted in being his production crew in an effort to reduce cost.

The short film Slayer was a group project that was produced with a cost of RM2,000.00 and had used graphics element and computer-generation produced by Syaiful himself.

While Angkiluang was  a final year project with a total cost production of RM4,000.00.

“I am very  lucky as my coursemates and lecturers helped me a lot to improve my work resulting in both films being successfully done and subsequently won awards at the Student Film Festival,” he said. – CD (fl)

Source:  Associate Professor Dr. Anuar Md Zairul Dawam, FKSW

TUESDAY, 1 DECEMBER – Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) students recently visited theTambunan Orphanage Home and spent some time with the 120 inmates of the home.

The programme was organised by the ‘Seni Khat’ Course of the Curriculum and Development Centre for Students (PKPP) iin cooperation with UMS Islamic Centre involving 80 students of UMS headed by the course lecturer, Jimmis Jumaat.

According to Jimmis, the programme was among others to foster relationship between university students and inmates of welfare homes such as the Tambunan Orphanage Home.

“This programme puts the five soft skills into practice; communication skill, critical thinking and problem-solving, teamwork, professional moral and ethics and leadership skills,” he said.

He added, several activities that were based on team-building were carried out with the orphans ranging from young children to adolescents could also enhance creativity thereby uncover the talents of the children.

Besides organising activities with the inmates of the Tambunan Orphanage Home, he said that UMSdelegation also presented cash donation, sports equipment, books and pencil cases in preparation for the coming school next year.

“It is hoped that with UMS’ efforts in bringing its students to actively conduct community activities such as this would be made an example to the public especially government and private agencies in promoting awareness of theplight and challenges of the less fortunate,” said Jimmis. – (fl)

By Faezah Mohamad Dun

Photo: Johaidi Ismail

TUESDAY,  01 DECEMBER – Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) continues to create history by leading the Industry Centre of Excellence (ICoE) Agriculture Cluster officiated by Deputy Minister cum Minister of Agriculture and Food Industry Sabah, Datuk Yahya Husssin last night.

 The establishment of ICoE Agricultural Cluster is an initiative of the Ministry of Education (MoE) to ensure that graduates of Higher Learning Institutions meet with market demands.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, Datuk Yahya said, with the presence of highly educated entrepreneurs, the agricultural sector could move quickly with more innovative, creative and adapting the latest agricultural technology.

“I urge the agencies under the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Industry Sabah to provide support and cooperation to this ICoE Agricultural Cluster,” he said.

Earlier, Vice-Chancellor, Professor Datuk Dr. Mohd Harun Abdullah said the appointment of UMS as a leader in agricultural ICoE was a recognition for UMS and the Faculty of Sustainable Agriculture.

“It is hoped that with the existence of ICoE, issues and challenges face in the marketability of Malaysian graduates now could be reduced.

“In addition, the number of unemployment amongst university graduates could also be brought to a minimum level,” he added.

Agricultural ICoE cooperates with other institutions and companies within the agricultural industry through four main structures; Agro-Mentor Programme, Agriculture Structured Internship Programme, Training of Trainers and Graduate Employability Programme. – (fl)

UMS Press was chosen to receive one of the Premier awards, Best Press Award (Government Agency).

Two other awards won were for Best General Book Category () through a book entitled, “The History of Financial Management and Development of Accounting Practice in North Borneo 1881-1963” written by Professor Dr. Rasid Mail, Associate Professor Dr. Raman Nordin and Md. Saffie Abdul Rahim.

Another award for Best General Books Category (Heritage Category) entitled, “Kimanis; Old State, Sacred Land” edited by Baszley Bee Ag. Basrah, Eko Prayitno Joko and Zainuddin Baco.

The selection was made by a panel of Professional ABN Appraisers 2015 chaired by Professor Datuk Wira Dr. Abdul Latif Abu Bakar, who is also the Head 1 of GAPENA.

The criteria for the award included quality and number of publications.

The Premier Award was presented by the Deputy Prime Minister, Dato’ Seri Dr. Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and award for the other categories were presented by the Minister of Education, Dato’ Seri Mahadzir Khalid.  UMS Press Director, Associate Professor Dr. Asmady Idris represented UMS in receiving the awards.

Vice-Chancellor of UMS, Professor Datuk Dr. Mohd Harun Abdullah said he was very excited and proud of the outstanding achievements of UMS Press achieved this year.

“Last year, two awards were won, and it increased to three this year.  This proves that UMS can produce high quality materials for reference and reading by the public,” he said this through his Facebook page, the message of which was uploaded during the event.

“3 trophies won at the National Book Awards 2015 have added to the collection of achievements in the field of publishing and writing,” he said.

ABN 2015 was organised by the National Book Development Foundation, a non-governmental organisation (NGO) established in accordance with the the government’s aspiration to develop the reading culture by all Malaysians to be well-informed and knowledgeable.

ABN is open to all employees, publishers and book industry players to be given the right recognition and incentives.

Over 30 categories were contested this year.

The ABN ceremony was also held in conjunction with the Malaysia Book Expo which was held from 25-29 November 2015 at PWTC, organised by the National Book Foundation in collaboration with Kuala Lumpur Universiti, GAPENA, Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka (DBP) and the National Library. – CD (fl)
Source: Anicius Justin Adeh, Publications Officer, UMS Press