THURSDAY, 24 MARCH – Six Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) students were among 100 who volunteered to join the YSS ASEAN Student Volunteers Mission organised by the Student Volunteers Foundation (YSS) for three weeks that ended on 8 March.

The six were, Mohd. Farhan Firdaus Jeffri, Glenna Mouren, Siti Nurhidayah Samsudin, Aina Nasuha Asman, Mohd Afi Haziq Sapili and Saibie Saiba.

The project provided opportunities for the volunteers to contribute to repairing public amenities at villages such as Kampung Batang Lupar, Kampung Nyimoh and Kampung Nanga Temalat located at Song District.

Among them were, building or an arch at every village, pedestrian walkway, painting of school walls and laboratory room including touch-ups to the school and tuition areas for the school students.

The finale of the YSS ASEAN Volunteers Mission to Sarawak was officiated by the Ministry of Women, Family and Community Development cum Member of Parliament for Batang Lupar, Dato’ Sri Hajah Rohani Hj. Ab. Karim.

Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Student Affairs and Alumni), Associate Professor Dr. Ismail Ali supported the volunteerism effort and hoped that the same mission would be conducted at UMS where repairing of public amenities could be done. – (fl)

Source: Nurlina Arappe

WEDNESDAY, 23 MARCH – The Association of Management and Professional Officers Non-Academic Universiti Malaysia Sabah (PPUMS) helped raise the awareness on healthy lifestyle by organising a Sports Carnival, recently.

PPUMS President, Azmi Jumat said that this initiative was to encourage its members comprising non-academic staff not to overlook their health despite their hectic schedule.

“This is also to strengthen the relationship amongst members of the association through the handful of sporting activities organised such as basketball and volleyball as well as futsal mix,” he said at the association’s annual activities held at UMS Arena.

Also present was the Registrar cum Advisor of PPUMS, No’man Datuk Hj. Ahmad.

Azmi also said that PPUMS had planned various activities for 2016 such as a conference and community service programmes.

For the record, PPUMS has 210 members comprising various schemes and grades. – (fl)

Source: Nordin Norhana, HEP
Photo: PPUMS

WEDNESDAY, 23 MARCH – “Keharmonian (Harmony), Integrasi (Integration), Toleransi (Tolerance) and Asimilasi (Assimilation)” Carnival organised by the Mandarin language Club of Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) was successfully held at the Padang Kawad (Parade Square), recently.

The three-day carnival  to introduce the culture and customs of the Chinese to the campus community was officiated by the Vice-Chancellor of UMS, Professor Datuk Dr. Mohd Harun Abdullah.

In his speech, he said the carnival was very significant because it could instill greater unity amongst the campus community who were of different races through their involvement in the programme.

“The carnival also increases public awareness on the importance of cultural understanding and interaction among all races,” he said.

Various activities were held during the carnival such as stage performances by UMS students, the popular band Estranged, including dragon and lion dances.

Also present at the opening ceremony was the Deputy Vice-Chancellor of Student Affairs and Alumni, Associate Professor Dr. Ismail Ali. – (fl)

Source: Norhana Nordin, HEP
Photos: Jalani Moksin, HEP

TUESDAY, 22 MARCH – Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) strengthened its position when it was listed in the QS World University Ranking for the first time in history.

UMS through its Agriculture and Forestry programme was ranked among  the top 200 world’s best.

This recognition also saw UMS ranked 36^th across Asian universities, through this programme.

Commenting on this achievement, the Vice-Chancellor of UMS, Professor Datuk Dr. Mohd Harun Abdullah said that this was a big leap in positioning UMS in the international arena.

“This proves that UMS is on the right track to achieve further excellence at world level.  InsyaAllah we will continue to improve our achievement from year to year,” he stressed.

He said UMS had always been  strengthening its research in various fields, particularly those that could benefit society in helping with the development of Malaysia and Sabah in particular.

“Our aim is not only to enable UMS become a competitive university globally but more importantly, in tandem with other public universities to produce experts towards realising the national vision to become a high income nation by 2020,” added Datuk Harun.

In Malaysia, UMS Agriculture and Forestry Programme was ranked second among all universities, after Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM). – (fl)