WEDNESDAY, 27 JANUARY – Taekwondo continues to add to the medal tally for Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) through two more silver medals won on the second day of the Higher Education Institutions Sports Championship (SUKIPT) 2016.

Two medals were contributed through Poomsae Individual Men and Women, represented by Ahmady Radi and Cheang Pui Siong.

Ahmady failed in his bid to continue with his gold feat yesterday when he narrowly lost 7 points over his challenger, Yong Jin Kun from Monash University,  collecting 7.12 points.

This added to his personal medal collection to three when he won two gold in the Poomsae Men Team and Poomsae Mixed.

Cheang Pui Siong also added to her collection a third medal through winning silver today, losing narrowly to Yap Khim Wen from HELP University, at 7.08 points against Yap’s 7.22 points.

Meanwhile, Fencing collected one medal for UMS through a bronze medal through Teo Zhe Bin in the Foil (Individual) Men Category.

As of this afternoon, UMS contingent still leads the medal tally with 2 gold, 3 silver and 1 bronze. – MA (fl)

WEDNESDAY, 27 JANUARY – Faculty of Engineering (FKJ), Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) in collaboration with UMS Investment Holdings Sdn. Bhd. (Uinvest) today hosted the International Seminar on Bioprocess Engineering (BPE) at The Klagan Regency, 1Borneo, Kota Kinabalu.

In his opening speech, Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation (MOSTI), Datuk Seri Panglima Wilfred Madius Tangau said the government’s recognition on the potential of the biotechnology sector led to the formulation of the new policy outlining the comprehensive measures to consistent growth sector.

“The third phase of the National Biotechnology Policy (NBP) focuses on the consolidation of strength and capabilities in technology development, development of expertise and strength in discovery and development of drugs, creating at least 20 Malaysian global biotechnology companies to spearhead the process of value creation and growth of the industry; and promote the ‘BioNexus Malaysia’ brand to make Malaysia a global hub, taking advantage of the strengths, capabilities and expertise,” he said.

His speech was read by the Political Secretary of MOSTI, Joisin Romut.

Datuk Seri Madius said, academics in this country play a role in helping the government to achieve the NBP through the organisation of seminars to showcase the synergy between industry and the academic world through the knowledge, ideas and commercial opportunities that benefit both parties.

Earlier, Vice-Chancellor UMS, Professor Datuk Dr. Mohd. Harun Abdullah said, in the area of commercialisation and marketing of products, collaboration with industry would improve a number of methods such as joint venture, partnership specialists and  high-tech facilities and equity participation.

“Scientists and engineers from universities and research institutions will be given the opportunity to participate in the management and marketing of intellectual property,” he said.

He was represented by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor of Academic and International UMS, Professor Dr. D Kamarudin D Mudin.

A total of 15 modules will be presented by industry and researchers from local and foreign universities at the four-day seminar. – (fl)

Photo: Kassim Utudiki

The theme of the conference is ‘Nurturing Innovation Ecosystems for Sustainable Oceans & Societal Wellbeing’, and would be conducted thoroughly in English.

The conference is divided into several sub-themes that includes fish feed and nutrition, seafood security, climate change adaptations, marine conservation and marine policies.

The topic is of global relevance and is particularly important for a country like Malaysia where marine ecosystem services play a significant role in socio-economic development, aquaculture industry is growing at a fast rate and seafood consumption is high.

ICOMSA is held annually to bring together international experts to share and advance scientific knowledge of the ocean ecosystems and to identify  the elements which can foster a culture of applying innovative solutions to problems associated to production of seafood resources.

It also provides an opportunity for multi-stakeholder dialogue-oriented to developing creative solutions to unresolved challenges in research, policies and programmes, and to bring renewed awareness of and commitment to addressing the need for synergy between science and entrepreneurship related to marine biological resources.

This will be the third time ICOMSA is held and is expected to attract participants from universities and research institutions from within and outside of the Southeast Asian region.

ICOMSA 2016 will include oral and poster presentations, and main lecture from the Vice Chairman and Independent Director, Sutera Harbour Group Sdn. Bhd., Malaysia, Francis Lee Choon Hui and three plenary lectures by Prof. Dr. Shi-Yen Shiau (Lifetime National Endowed Chair Professor, National Taiwan Ocean University, Taiwan); Prof. Dr. Michael Borowitzka (Emeritus Professor of Marine Phycology, Murdoch University, Australia) and Prof. Dr. Shigeharu Senoo (Professor, Fisheries Institute, Kinki University).

For more information, please visit our website by scanning the QR Code below or type http://www.ums.edu.my/ipmbv2/icomsa/index.html, or contact the Conference Secretariat at 088-320000 ext. 2589.

TUESDAY, 26 JANUARY – Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) contingent won its first gold medal at the Higher Education Institutions Sports Championship (SUKIPT) 2016 that started on 24 January, through Taekwondo.

The medal was contributed by Raymond Toh Meng Hui, Ahmady Radi and Lee Kim Qin through Poomsae Men Team.

With a total score of 6.98 points collected by the three strong individual, they ousted their closest rival from HELP University who collected 6.56 points to take the second spot.

The success saw UMS Taekwondo team winning the gold medal in the category for the third time in a row since 2012.

The bronze medal was won by the team from the International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM) and Universiti Teknikal Malaysia Melaka (UteM).

The achievement was also fueled by the UMS Taekwondo Women Team who showed excellent performance in the same event.

UMS team represented by Cheong Pui Siong, Goh Chai Loon and Fiona Ng Wen Yah had to be contended with a silver medal after losing narrowly with 6.75 points to the team from HELP University who took home the gold medal, collecting 6.97 points.

UMS also outshone their opponents in the Poomsae Mixed Category represented by Ahmady Radi and Cheong Pui Siong by clinching the gold medal, thus achieving their mission.

Held at several venues sporting venues in Johor Bharu, SUKIPT 2016 hosted by Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM), the championship is participated by a number of universities from neighbouring countries such as Thailand, Myanmar, Indonesia and Laos.

UMS participates in 10 out of the 25 sports contested; taekwondo, silat, athletics, karate, volleyball, fencing, badminton, petanque, lawn bowl and ten-pin bowling. – MA (fl)

Photo Credit: Eddy Jamilih, UMS Sports Centre