Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) is set to improve its water supply, with a planned increase to approximately five million litres per day.

UMS vice-chancellor Prof Datuk Dr Kasim Mansor said this enhancement would involve a combination of external supply and internal resources.

Four million litres per day will be provided by Sabah Water Department, with the remaining one million litres per day expected from the completion of eight tube wells on campus.

The addition of the tube wells aims to complement the existing supply, addressing the needs of the 22,000 individuals on campus during the day, including residential students.

This information was shared during the UMS Premier Breaking of Fast event.

The move comes as a response to previous challenges in water supply, primarily from the Telibong Water Treatment Plant in Tuaran, which struggled to meet demand.

The situation has improved slightly with the completion of the Telibong 2 Phase Two project last year and subsequent pipeline works.

Kasim said six of the tube wells funded through a RM3 million grant announced by the prime minister last year are now operational.

Final installations and pipeline connections to the residential colleges were on schedule, with full completion expected by April.

Universitas Tanjungpura, Pontianak, Indonesia (UNTAN) visited the Faculty of Business, Economics and Accountancy (FBEA) at Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) on March 4.

The primary objective of this benchmark visit was to explore potential collaboration avenues in academic activities, research endeavors, and postgraduate opportunities at UMS.

The delegation, led by Dr Rosyadi, S.E., M.Si, included over 20 postgraduate students.

They were received by Dr Noor Fzlinda Fabeil, Deputy Dean for Students Affairs and Postgraduate at UMS.

Dean of FBEA UMS, Associate Professor Dr Mohd Rahimie Abd Karim, extended a warm welcome to the UNTAN delegates, whose institution was established in 1959.

Both parties sealed their commitment to collaboration by signing a Letter of Intent, outlining plans for academic exchange activities, joint research initiatives, and facilitating mobility for staff and students.

The session was joined by Dr Izyanti Awang Razli, Postgraduate by Research Coordinator, and Dr Allif Anwar, Postgardue Coursework Coordinator, and Associate Professor Dr Zaiton Osman, former dean at UMS Labuan International Campus.

During the visit, Datu Razali Datu Eranza and Andy Lee Chen Hiung shared insights into FBEA's mobility program.

As coordinators for mobility programs, they elaborated on their experiences in managing inbound mobility programs from various countries including China, Indonesia, Vietnam, Laos, Thailand, South Korea, Gabon, and Cambodia, resulting in FBEA winning active mobility awards for six consecutive years.

The day's agenda also included a session for postgraduate students from both universities, facilitated by Andrew Sean, head of the postgraduate students' community association.

This session aimed to foster an exchange of experiences, explore potential collaborations, and discuss future activities.

Dr Rosyadi and the UNTAN postgraduate students were captivated by the scenic landscape of UMS and the splendor of the renowned 'Pink Mosque' on campus.

Before departing for Sarawak the following day, they enjoyed a comprehensive campus tour.

This collaborative endeavor marks a significant step towards enhancing academic cooperation and fostering mutual growth between UMS and Tanjungpura University, Indonesia

Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) and Universiti Malaysia Kelantan (UMK) have formalized an intellectual property sharing agreement for the Integrated Solar Dryer Tool (INSOLER), an innovation for drying agricultural and fisheries products that has benefitted communities in Sabah and Kelantan.

The agreement was signed in a ceremony officiated by UMS Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Datuk Dr. Kasim Hj Mansor, and UMK Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Dato’ Dr. Razli Che Razak, at UMS.

In his speech, Kasim highlighted that the INSOLER innovation was jointly developed by researchers and inventors from both universities: UMS Director of the Innovation and Commercialization Management Centre (PPIP), Assoc. Prof. Dr. Jidon Janaun, and UMK Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research and Innovation), Prof. Ts. Dr. Arham Abdullah.

“This collaborative innovation arose because UMS and UMK share the same vision and aspiration to assist rural farmers and fishers in improving their socio-economic conditions.

“INSOLER is an innovative idea combining active and passive air heating to address the limitations of conventional solar drying methods.

“This innovation has been utilized by communities in Tumpat, Kelantan, and Kota Belud, Sabah. Additionally, the INSOLER prototype at the UMS Faculty of Engineering is also being used by various communities to dry agricultural products such as corn husks and coffee residues,” he said.

He added that INSOLER has won numerous national innovation awards, including the Gold Medal and Special Award, The Star of New York (Green Technology), at the prestigious iENA Germany 2023 competition.

“I have been informed that there is already a company interested in commercializing the INSOLER innovation, and PPIP UMS is currently preparing the commercialization agreement documents.

“Therefore, I hope the synergy between UMS and UMK will continue and remain strong to ensure the sustainability of fostering innovation in public universities.

“This agreement’s success demonstrates that research or innovation can be achieved in a multidisciplinary manner through collaboration between two or more universities,” Kasim stated.

In response, Razli emphasized that the INSOLER innovation was designed to promote sustainable agriculture by enhancing the drying process of agricultural products and reducing food waste.

“Two INSOLER units have been produced—one at UMS with a capacity of 200 kilograms and another at UMK with a capacity of 2,000 kilograms, used in community projects for drying ikan bekok (preserved fish) in Tumpat, Kelantan.

“This innovation has enabled ikan bekok producers to continue operations, especially during the monsoon season, as INSOLER offers a more systematic and high-quality process with electronic control of temperature, humidity, and time.

“As a result, the production capacity of ikan bekok has increased by 300 percent, as the processing time using INSOLER only takes one hour compared to three hours with conventional methods,” he said.

Also present at the ceremony were UMS Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research and Innovation), Prof. Ir. Dr. Rosalam; UMK Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research and Innovation), Prof. Ts. Dr. Arham Abdullah; UMS Registrar, Luqman Ridha Anwar; UMK Senior Director of the Research and Innovation Management Centre (RMIC), Prof. Ir. Ts. Dr. Julie Juliewatty Mohamed; UMS PPIP Director, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Jidon Janaun; UMS Research Management Centre Director, Prof. Dr. Jumat Sulaiman; and UMK Commercialization and Intellectual Property Division (ICD) Director, Dr. Mardawani Mohamad.

In a vibrant exchange of cultures and knowledge, students from Hosei University of Japan embarked on a whirlwind tour of Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) on 2nd March 2024.

The visit provided an excellent opportunity for both sets of students to immerse themselves in each other’s cultures, deepen their understanding of different perspectives and forge lasting connections.

The Faculty of Science and Humanities (FSSK) Mobility Coordinator, Dr. Trixie Tangit emphasized the importance of initiatives by the mobility program in strengthening connections between UMS and Hosei University.

“Through activities such as summer school programs and fostering deep connections through visits, both institutions can aim to build a foundation for future collaborative endeavours.

“We are proud that Abu Hurairah and Karen Adelyn, our students from the International Relations Programme, FSSK took the initiative to organize a campus tour and truly, the day-long journey was marked by camaraderie, discovery and mutual appreciation,” she said.

Throughout their visit, the Hosei University students engaged in various activities, ranging from exploring UMS’s campus and facilities to participating in cultural exchange and academic discussions.

“Such exchanges not only enrich the educational experience of the students involved but also contribute to fostering mutual respect, collaboration and friendship between institutions and across borders,” she added.

The group also had a chance to visit UMS Aquarium and Museum Marine, Outdoor Development Centre (ODEC), Pinakol Stairs, UMS Clock Tower and the picturesque UMS Mosque also known as Pink Mosque, one of Kota Kinabalu’s must-visit place.

Department of Economics, Hosei University lecturer, Professor Dr. Yasuo Yakatani expressed his gratitude, emphasizing the effectiveness of the day’s organising and the warm hospitality extended by UMS students.

For more information on mobility events by the Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities UMS, contact Dr. Trixie Tangit at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..