KOTA KINABALU: Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) students have expressed their happiness and excitement after they are allowed to return to their respective hometowns to celebrate the coming Hari Raya Aidilfitri with their families.

Most of those met at the UMS Balik Raya Student Programme at the UMS parade ground, Saturday, were thankful to the Government, especially the Higher Education Ministry, for permitting the movement of the students.

Mohd Azman Amran said the opportunity to return to his hometown, let alone during the festive season, was indeed a moment to look forward to as he had missed his family the most.

“I am very grateful because not everyone gets an opportunity like this to go home for Hari Raya and celebrate with their families. Of course, I miss my family in the village and to make lemang (glutinous rice cooked in bamboo) and ketupat (rice cake) with my mother in the backyard,” said the 21-year-old student who hails from Negeri Sembilan.

Another UMS student, Awg Azreezan Awg Kasim from Tawau, also did not expect that the students would be allowed to return to their hometown and described it as a golden opportunity for he had not met his family for some time.

“Previously, we stayed on the campus and could not meet our families, so when we are allowed to return home, it will be a joyful event for us,” he said.

Both Mohd Azman and Awg Azreezan are among 2,000 UMS students expected to return to their hometowns in conjunction with the Hari Raya Aidilfitri celebration from May 7 to 12.

Meanwhile, UMS Vice-Chancellor Datuk Taufiz Yap Yun Hin said the university had prepared various initiatives to ease the movement of the students, including providing rental buses and shuttle services that travel back and forth twice a day to the airport.

“We also distribute face masks, hand sanitisers and food for students before all students return home,” he said, adding a total of 4,500 students have opted to remain on campus during the Hari Raya holiday period.

Taufiq assured that the university would look after the students’ welfare by providing food and ensuring their safety. 

Source: https://www.dailyexpress.com.my/news/171075/ums-students-happy-excited/

KOTA KINABALU: Some 2,000 Universiti Malaysia Sabah students are expected to return to their hometowns in conjunction with Raya Aidilfitri Aidilfitri.

UMS Vice-Chancellor Professor Datuk Dr Taufiq Yap Yun Hin said the students would be sent back in stages, with the 'balik kampung' journey kicking off on Friday and would last until May 12.

"We are providing five buses daily to several areas and two shuttle services to the airport for students returning to the Peninsula.

"The students are expected to return to campus on May 15, which they have to inform us beforehand.

"Students who return to campus will not have to go through the quarantine procedure," he said when met by reporters, adding that returnees only need to maintain the standard operating procedures (SOP).

However, for students returning from the Peninsula especially from areas under Movement Control Order, they will be required to undergo isolation for 10 days.

Taufiq said a total of 4,500 students have opted to remain in campus during the Hari Raya holiday period.

He assured that the university would looked after the students' welfare by providing food and ensuring their safety.

First-year Electrical and Electronics Engineering student Mohd Irsyad Iskandar Mohd Idris from Terengganu said he was happy as UMS students from the Peninsula were also allowed to return to their home town.

"I am happy to hear the news. I am happy to be back after the Enhanced Movement Control Order (EMCO) at UMS ends.

"During EMCO, which coincided with fasting month, I was stressed for being confined and attending online classes.

"When I reach home, I want to spend as much time with my family to de-stress." he said.

Source: https://www.nst.com.my/news/nation/2021/05/688789/2000-ums-students-start-balik-kampung-journey?fbclid=IwAR3-i7VC-w4O9TCPaxT5hCzrbyrHehT5DLi349KLpnhXohVqR8JY1ZtMSvY#.YJYNRdMlhzg.facebook

KOTA KINABALU: A total of 524 Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) staff received various awards at the UMS 2019 and 2020 Appreciation Ceremony.

The hybrid event was held at Galeri Majlis and also broadcasted virtually via its official Facebook account UMS.Official and also YouTube UMS.Net.

A total of 39 UMS retired personnel, including four who have passed away were given the Jasamu Dikenang award in appreciation of their contribution to the university.

The awards were handed over by UMS vice chancellor Prof. Datuk ChM. Dr. Taufiq Yap Yun Hin.

According to Taufiq, the event showed UMS’ commitment to appreciate the contribution of its staff with the hope that excellent work culture, prioritizing quality, creativity and innovation would become a continuous practice to ensure university excellence.

“This year, we have also introduced another award, the Sanjungan Budi Award for those who have served in UMS for over 25 years which involves 19 recipients, besides 80 people who received the Jasa Setia Award, which is for those who have served UMS for 20 years, as well as 240 people who have served for 10 years who received the Jasa Bakti Award.

“A total of 146 staff from various job schemes at the support and management staff level including academic staff were also selected as recipients of the Outstanding Service Award (APC) for 2019, with APC recipients receiving a Certificate of Outstanding Service, as well as a performance excellence incentive of RM1,000 that was credited to the recipient’s account in early 2021,” he said.

In the meantime, Taufiq said every civil servant is required to provide the best and excellent service to the community throughout their service, and each has a role in ensuring that the services delivered are clean and with integrity.

“I sincerely hope that UMS staff continue to be committed to working with sincerity and full of integrity without expecting recognition and not even because of name.

“The job as a civil servant is a trust and must be shouldered with sincerity and responsibility.
“Work culture or ethics must be prudent and with integrity to meet the vision and mission of the organization,” he added.

Taufiq also hoped that the staff celebrated at the event would always be successful, in good health, maintain personal morals, strengthen friendships, maintain their excellent work, and become quality employees to help boost UMS’ excellence not only at the national level but in the eyes of the world.

Also present at the ceremony was the Registrar of UMS, Luqman Ridha Anwar as well as key and senior officers of UMS.

Source: https://www.theborneopost.com/2021/03/16/524-ums-staff-receive-appreciation-awards/ 

KOTA KINABALU: Mabul islanders in Semporna can look forward to the possibility of making money from plastic waste soon.

Universiti Malaysia Sabah's Research and Innovation Management Centre deputy director Dr Jidon Janaun said the varsity is working on the 'Plastic Up-cycling Project: Plastic to Fuel' with the hope that the experiment would create a circular economy for the community.

Despite being famous as a tourist destination, the 20-hectare Mabul island, with about 2,500 residents, have limited resources and lack of proper waste management.

"It is expensive to ship the waste to Semporna town. The easiest way for the people at Mabul is either to bury, burn or dump the waste into the sea.

"We believe if we can show the people how to make money, it will be a workable solution," he said during a recent webinar with BluHope on Commonwealth Day, adding that the solution to put value to plastic would lead to proper waste disposal awareness among the community.

Jidon added that the project aimed to convert plastics into diesel to be used to fuel generators and boat engines.

Despite the name "Appropriate Technology Pyrolyser", he said the 3T system or Trash-to-tank innovation was not rocket science as the process involved putting certain types of plastics and coconut husks into a machine to produce fuel.

The usable plastic materials include containers, bags, bottle caps, cutlery, straws and styrofoam.

"The beauty of the innovation is the fuel has the same properties of commercial diesel which can be used in generators as well as boat engines, which both are commonly used by the people there.

He added that the team was also looking into bringing in and using solar-powered electrical heaters to maximise the green element for the innovation.

The 4-litre capacity prototype cost is around RM7,000.

Jidon said they were planning to license the intellectual property out to companies for mass production so more people can own the unit.

"We are also open for the government to adopt this process and engage agencies or non-governmental organisations to run the business."

Source: https://www.nst.com.my/news/nation/2021/03/672574/ums-working-help-mabul-community-manage-plastic-waste