WEDNESDAY, 24 AUGUST – The Merdeka Month celebration is felt by citizens from all walks of life in Malaysia.

Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) itself responded  by having a campaign to fly the ‘Jalur Gemilang’ and Sabah flag around the campus.

Media survey found that both flags have been installed in and around the campus since earlier this month.

These flags were also seen fixed on lamp posts around the main stretch of the university at Jalan Perdana Puncak Ilmu, Jalan Samudera and Jalan Canselori.

Free mini flags were given out by the Chancellery Department that saw staff displaying the flags on their vehicles to show their sign of patriotism for peace and prosperity of the country. – (fl)

TUESDAY, 23 AUGUST – The Bursar Department (BEN) will be organising the Malaysian Private Entities Reporting Standards (MPERS) on 22-23 September 2016.

Titled “MPERS: Are You Ready to be Audited”, the programme aims to provide a comprehensive and practical approach towards MPERS implementation as well as a guidance on how to prepare financial statements according to MPERS standards.

The invited speakers are Audit Partner, Thong Foo Vung and Senior Manager, Oh Sye Yi from KPMG, a professional worldwide auditing company.

A 10% discount applies to group bookings of three or more participants.  The closing date of registration is extended to 31 August 2016. 

Pre-registration of the session is on 21 September at the lobby of the Klagan Regency, 1Borneo, Kota Kinabalu beginning at 2.00 pm until 8.00 pm.

For more information, please contact Suzie Binti Mohamad at 013-8528812, Hayati Salleh Baihaki at 014-6502837 or Sukma Setiani Binti Sujano at 016-8220218. - FL

TUESDAY, 23 AUGUST – The Four Wheel Drive Volunteer Club Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS 4WDVC) successfully held their corporate social responsibility (CSR) through their Community Exploration Programme at Kg. Magandai, Kota Marudu, recently.

The three-day programme aimed at helping the rural community in developing sustainable ecological practices, led by Deputy Vice-Chancellor of Research and Innovation UMS and the current President of UMS 4WDVC, Professor Dr. Shahril Yusof.

According to Prof. Shahril, UMS 4WDVC was often involved in CSR mission involving the use of 4-wheel drive vehicles and had chosen Kg. Magandai as the route to get to the village was very difficult and challenging.

“Volunteers comprising 27 staff of UMS planted durian trees around the school area as part of their CSR efforts.

“School children were also taught on the importance of planting fruit trees and responsible for maintaining the trees planted,” he said.

Prof.  Shahril said, besides planting fruit trees, the volunteers also had the chance to jungle trek to Kg. Minisulang located some eight kilometres from Kg. Magandai to appreciate and feel for themselves the experience of the villagers who had to use the jungle trail as their routine track.

A motivational programme with the students of SK Magandai was held in the evening, which was presented by Dr. Abd. Hakim Mohad, a senior lecturer at the Centre for the Promotion of Knowledge and Language UMS, who stressed on the importance of achieving success and continued efforts to attain a higher level of education up to university level.

UMS 4WDVC also distributed rice to help the elderly of Kg. Magandai before returning to Kota Kinabalu. – (fl)

 MONDAY, 22 AUGUST – ‘Selangkah ke Menara  Gading’ or ‘A Step to  the Ivory Tower’ programme organised by the Student Representatives Council (MPP) Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) was meant to educate students on the actual life in university, besides motivating them to strive in getting a place at the ivory tower.

Assistant Minister of Tourism, Culture and Environment Sabah, Datuk Kamarlin Ombi said, such programme was academic-like, motivational in nature with a touch of leadership quality that would be beneficial to participants and a motivation to them.

“I hope such programme would be an encouragement especially to students of secondary schools to develop and prepare themselves.

“It is hoped that this programme would be an inspiration to the students to strive for excellence for themselves, the university and the country in general,” he said when closing the programme at the Main Lecture Hall 2, UMS, yesterday.

His speech was read by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Environment, Datu Rosmadi Datu Sulai.

He also hoped that the participants of SEMEGA would continue in their struggle to gain knowledge  to achieve their dreams of stepping into university.

The three-day SEMEGA programme saw a total of 177 students from 15 schools throughout the state converged at UMS to participate in the various activities planned, which included motivational camp, group trainings and so on.

Also present at the closing ceremony of the SEMEGA programme were the Assistant Director of the State Education Department, Datuk Dr. Mohd Kassim Mohd Ibrahim, and Head of Student Affairs Department, Azmi Jumat. – MA (fl)