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 novoLRTM 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

THURSDAY, 21 JULY – The e-Entrepreneurship Course organised by the Psychology and Social Health Research Unit (UPPsiKS) Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) was able to assist People with Disabilities (OKU) to learn digital entrepreneurship in marketing hand-made products, thus helping to generate good income.

According to UPPsiKS Head, Dr. Ferlis Bullare, this course enabled participants especially OKU to learn digital income generation through product marketing techniques on social network sites.

“It also seeks to apply the knowledge and digital entrepreneurship amongst existing micro entrepreneurs and the public who wish to pursue entrepreneurship,” he said.

He added, some OKU participants brought in some interesting products, which had good potential to enter the market.

“The products were of good quality and able to penetrate into the market, but they lacked the knowledge on effective marketing strategy that could generate revenue for them.

“Hopefully this course could bring benefit to them to expand their potential in their respective fields,” Dr. Ferlis added.

He said, it was the hope of the organisers that this programme achieve the goal of human development thus increasing the economic welfare of the people especially in the field of entrepreneurship amongst the OKU and general public.

Held at the Seminar Room of the Faculty of Psychology and Education, the course organised in collaboration with Yanzz Excellence Services and JNJ Management & Consultant was attended by more than 50 people including 20 persons with disabilities.

Among the contents were the sharing of knowledge of marketing through social media such as Facebook, Instagram and Whatsapp; exposure to e-marketplace, viral marketing, e-payment and segmentation; and ad-content writing skills that attract customers as well as technique in taking pictures. – MA (fl)

THURSDAY, 21 JULY – The Human Resources Division under the Registrar Department, Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) recently organised the Public Sector Housing Financing Board (LPPSA), CUEPACS Welfare Programme for Government Staff, and the 1Malaysia Housing Scheme for Government Staff (PPA1M) talks, held at the Galeri, Level 3, Chancellery Building, UMS.

The talks were presented by Senior Manager of the Chief Executive Officer Office of LPPSA, Mohd. Rashidi Baba; Information Officer from the Sabah Welfare Department, Mohd. Abas Pillai and Property Negotiator from a private real-estate agency, Shaznieffah Zakaria, respectively.

Among those that were presented were the loan criteria for government staff including the types of loans and insurance coverage for all types of property, adding that all applications are now done online.

About 100 UMS staff attended the talks that included a question and answer session.

Also attended the event was Assistant Registrar, Sharifah Rofidah Habib Hasan who also presented mementos to the guest speakers. - FL

WEDNESDAY, 20 JULY – 584 pilgrims attended the 1437H/2016M Hajj Course, State-level West Coast Zone, jointly organised by the Malaysian Hajj Pilgrims Fund Board (TH) and Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS), recently.

The course was officiated by the State Assembly Speaker, Datuk Haji Syed Abas Syed Ali.

In his speech he congratulated TH for their commitment in ensuring all programmes and activities for the pilgrims were successfully implemented.

He advised the pilgrims to stay healthy and to bring enough medical supplies as the hajj required physical strength, especially during the Arafah, Muzdalifah and the stoning of the devil at Jamrah.

According to one of the pilgrims, Sahara Jais, 43, the Hajj Course was important as it gave them an idea of the situation at the holy land, so as to be better prepared.

“This is the first time I will be performing the hajj to the holy land, I am very happy and grateful for having been chosen to join this course,” Sahara said, who hailed from Kg. Gudon.

Also present at the event was the Senior General Manager, TH Human Resources, Tuan haji Hisham Harun and the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic and International) UMS, Professor Dr. D Kamarudin D Mudin. – (fl)

WEDNESDAY, 20 JULY – Vice-Chancellor of Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS), Professor Datuk Dr. Mohd Harun Abdullah welcomed the arrival of a 55-strong member delegation from China and the members of the Malaysian Chinese-Muslim Association, Sabah Branch to UMS.

The visit not only helped promote the university itself but also paved the way for collaborations between UMS and MACMA.

“It is hoped that this would be a fruitful visit in terms of cooperation and knowledge-sharing between the two sides.

“We can analyse the collaborations for the benefit of a global community,” he said in his speech during the courtesy visit by the delegation, held at Galeri UMS.

He added, the cooperation with agencies from China was no longer new as UMS had collaborated with a university in Harbin, China related to “Halal Food” products.

The delegation from MACMA also performed a Kung Fu demonstration by Master Bai Yi Hai, and calligraphy by Master Li Xing Lin. – MA

Photo: Ernest Berinus