KOTA KINABALU: Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) received a shot in the arm with RM2 million funding from the Sabah government to boost its research.
Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor said the research effort would open up new opportunities for learning and growth and he hoped to see UMS doing more in this area.
"Hence, I am pleased to announce the state government's contribution of RM2 million to the UMS research fund.
"I hope this will spur the university's research agenda," he said at the "Aku Janji" pledge ceremony in conjunction with the orientation week of new students for the 2022/2023 intake at the UMS Chancellor Hall recently.
Present were the new UMS vice-chancellor, Prof Datuk Dr Kasim Md Mansur, Special Tasks and Coordination Minister and State Education Exco, Datuk Ariffin Arif and Chairman of the UMS Board of Directors, Datuk Seri Abdul Rahman Dahlan.
A total of 4,576 students have been selected for the new intake of which 60.6 per cent or 2,770 are from Sabah and 1,144 from other states, 582 from Sarawak and 23 international students.
In his speech, Hajiji hoped more youths will be involved in the election process since all citizens were automatically registered as voters upon reaching 18 years of age.
"It is not just because you are registered automatically, but it is your responsibility as a citizen to choose the country's government," he said.
The Pro-Chancellor of UMS also advised the new students who come from different religious and racial backgrounds to make UMS the platform to continue maintaining and strengthening the unity that has been forged between them.
"Through such understanding, there will be racial and religious harmony and unity. We must always be united in order to preserve peace and prosperity," he said.
Hajiji added that as the next echelon of leaders, the younger generation had the responsibility to equip themselves with knowledge, skills and high morals with impeccable etiquette through education.
"Youth must be given the opportunity to formulate the nation's development policies. In recent years, more youths have come forward to be involved in several state elections in Malaysia, which showed their readiness to contribute in terms of ideas and energy in developing the country."
The Sabah government has always provided space and opportunities for youths in Sabah to be involved in the process in a more holistic way through several initiatives like the Sabah Youth Parliament as well as Sabah Maju Jaya Fellow programmes under the purview of the Youth and Sports Ministry.
The first batch of 24 graduates were selected for the Sabah Maju Jaya Fellow programme to undergo a six-month guidance programme in all 12 state ministries in March this year.
