KOTA KINABALU: A geologist expects a strong seismic event to occur in Lahad Datu in the near future based on the frequency of earthquake episodes recorded.

Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) academician Professor Dr Felix Tongkul said, even although the historical earthquake record was patchy due to older seismographs, it had improved after 1970.

"For the last 100 years, there have been regular happenings of earthquakes with magnitudes greater than 5.0 (on the Richter scale).

"Four strong earthquakes with magnitudes greater than 6.0 occurred in Kudat in 1951, Lahad Datu (1923 and 1976) and Ranau (2015)," he said in an inaugural virtual lecture on Earthquake Science in Malaysia on the UMS Facebook page.

"The earthquake record in Sabah is too short to come up with a reliable recurrence interval. However, based on available records, the frequency of earthquake occurrences with over 5.0 magnitude in Ranau is about 25 years (1966-1991).

"In Lahad Datu the frequency of earthquake occurrences with magnitude more than 6.0 is about 53 years (1923-1976). Based on this, we should expect another strong earthquake in Lahad Datu soon," said Tongkul.

In Sabah, the last strong quake measuring 6.0 on the Richter scale hit Ranau in 2015. It came 24 years after the 1991 Ranau earthquake.

Through earthquake research, Tongkul noted experts could learn to predict the time, place and size of specific large earthquakes, ideally in a very short time to allow communities to be more prepared.

"Unfortunately, accurate prediction of earthquakes is still not possible at this stage due to the complexity of the system. There are no clear signals before occurrences of a large earthquake.

"However, many aspects of earthquake behaviour can be anticipated with enough precision to be useful in mitigating risks.

"The potential of faults to cause future earthquakes can be assessed by combining geological field studies of previous movements with seismic and geodetic monitoring of current activity," he said.

Tongkul said the Active Fault Research Group coordinated by UMS had in 2012 mapped several potential active faults, namely in Ranau, Kudat, Sandakan, Lahad Datu and Kunak.

From 2018, UMS has been collaborating with Cambridge and Aberdeen universities as well as the Malaysian Meteorological Department to record how earthquake waves propagate under Sabah to determine its crustal structure.

Tongkul pointed out four major challenges of earthquake science in Malaysia: the lack of seismic geological, geodetic and engineering data; inadequate seismic and geodetic monitoring system; lack of trained human resources; and, a lack of public awareness.

As such, he said there was a need for several things, that is to carry out and develop comprehensive geological and engineering studies; coordinated seismic and geodetic monitoring; human resource capacity building; coordinated public education; a special research and development fund; and, a national earthquake research centre.

Significant 5.0 to 6.0 magnitude earthquakes will continue to occur in Malaysia, he said, but this will be limited to certain areas in Sabah especially in Ranau, Lahad Datu, Kunak, and Kudat.

"While earthquakes can't be prevented, levels of risk can be reduced or eliminated with proper understanding of how earthquakes interact with the surroundings.

"Detailed seismic hazard maps in high-risk areas are urgently needed, while earthquake prone areas in Sabah should seriously start implementing new earthquake-resistant building codes.

"This has proven to be effective in reducing casualties in countries that have implemented such measures, such as in Mexico, Chile and New Zealand. I do hope measures proposed can become the basis for quake disaster risk reduction in Malaysia," added Tongkul.

Source: https://www.nst.com.my/news/nation/2020/11/642205/geologist-warns-strong-earthquake-strike-lahad-datu-near-future

KOTA KINABALU: Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) has been entrusted to conduct a     study  on the effectiveness and accuracy of China's Covid-19 test kit.

The test kit is issued by a leading company based in Wuhan.

The study is a collaboration between the university and Sabah-China Commercial Chamber (SCCC) to assist in combating the current situation of the Covid-19 pandemic in the state.

SCCC secretary general Tan Kok Jyh, in a statement, said the test kit is different from the ones currently used to conduct Covid-19 screening.

The collaboration would further nurture research and development activities that can benefit the community.

"We are concerned about the situation in Sabah.

"In this regard, we have obtained a Covid-19 test kit from a company in China for study.

"UMS is the first university we are giving the test kit to because we know this university has enough capacity, equipment and expertise for this purpose," he said.

Tan presented the China-made Covid-19 test kit to UMS vice-chancellor Prof Datuk Dr Taufiq Yap Yun Hin at the varsity's Medical and Health Sciences Faculty yesterday.

He noted such joint efforts formed with UMS would further strengthen the relationship between SCCC and the local university. In extending his appreciation, Taufiq said the varsity looked forward to this good collaboration especially when Sabah is badly affected by the pandemic.

"We in UMS are proud and honoured to be chosen to conduct this study," he said, adding that they hoped the collaboration would continue.

Source: https://www.nst.com.my/news/nation/2020/11/645029/ums-study-effectiveness-wuhans-covid-19-test-kit

KHAMIS, 12 NOVEMBER – Pengarah Pusat Keselamatan dan Kesihatan Pekerjaan (PKKP) Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS), Prof. Dr. Khamisah Awang Lukman menyarankan masyarakat mematuhi cara pemakaian pelitup separuh muka bagi mengekang penyebaran COVID-19.

Beliau berkata demikian ketika sesi perkongsian dalam Siri Pendidikan Kesihatan COVID-19 Siri 2 yang membincangkan topik “Pelitup Separuh Muka: Betulkah Cara Saya Pakai Ni?”.

Pemakaian pelitup separuh muka khususnya ketika berada di tempat awam amat penting bagi mencegah penularan COVID-19 dengan lebih berkesan.

Pemakaian pelitup separuh muka muka bukan sahaja bertindak menghalang seseorang untuk menyebarkan virus melalui cecair dari hidung atau mulut, tetapi turut mampu melindungi diri sendiri dengan menghalang sebarang virus daripada memasuki rongga sistem pernafasan.

“Berdasarkan fakta dan kajian klinikal, transmisi COVID-19 boleh berpindah daripada individu dijangkiti kepada indvidu lain melalui cecair atau titisan, dan cenderung untuk menyerang sistem pernafasan melalui hidung dan mulut.

“Apabila individu yang dijangkiti COVID-19 bercakap atau batuk, percikan atau titisan yang lebih besar yang mengandungi virus akan jatuh ke permukaan, manakala titisan yang kecil boleh merebak lebih jauh.

“Justeru, pelitup separuh muka amat peting sebagai penghadang bagi mencegah sebaran percikan tersebut memasuki hidung dan mulut, selain turut bertindak menghalang tangan yang dikhuatiri terdedah kepada titisan daripada permukaan untuk memegang hidung dan mulut sendiri.

“Dalam erti kata lain, pelitup separuh muka amat penting sebagai pelindung atau kawalan terhadap punca penularan,”katanya.

Mengulas lanjut berkaitan pelitup muka, kata Prof. Khamisah terdapat dua jenis pelitup separuh muka yang dijual di pasaran, iaitu jenis pelitup separuh muka perubatan dan pelitup separuh muka bukan perubatan.

“Secara asasnya, pelitup separuh muka perubatan ialah jenis pakai buang dan mempunyai ciri tiga lapisan, iaitu lapisan luar yang kalis air bagi menghalang sebarang titisan, lapisan tengah sebagai penapis sekiranya terdapat titisan kecil menembusi lapisan luar, dan lapisan dalam yang menyerap air iaitu bagi menyerap titisan akibat batuk.

“Pelitup separuh muka perubatan kebiasaannya perlu dipakai oleh golongan petugas kesihatan, petugas barisan hadapan, golongan yang mempunyai simptom jangkitan COVID-19, golongan yang berisiko dijangkiti seperti warga emas atau individu yang mempunyai masalah sistem imun badan, serta orang yang sakit.

Bagi pelitup separuh muka bukan perubatan, katanya pelitup separuh muka jenis ini adalah dari bahan fabrik dan boleh diguna semula dengan syarat perlu dicuci menggunakan air panas dan sabun detergen.

“Pertubuhan Kesihatan Sedunia (WHO) turut menyarankan agar pelitup separuh muka jenis fabrik ini perlu ada ciri sama seperti pelitup separuh muka perubatan, iaitu perlu mempunyai tiga lapisan,” kata Prof. Khamisah.

Jabatan Keselamatan dan Kesihatan Pekerjaan juga katanya merupakan agensi yang bertanggungjawab memastikan semua pelitup muka yang dijual secara komersial di kedai-kedai mematuhi standard dan piawaian minimum yang telah ditetapkan oleh WHO.

Pada akhir sesi perkongsian, Prof. Khamisah turut mengingatkan agar orang awam tidak mudah leka dengan penurunan kes COVID-19 di negara tetapi terus mengamalkan pemakaian pelitup separuh muka serta mematuhi prosedur operasi standard (SOP) yang ditetapkan oleh kerajaan.

Siri Pendidikan Kesihatan COVID-19 anjuran Pusat Kesiapsiagaan dan Tindakan COVID-19 UMS yang dikendalikan oleh Ketua Jabatan Pendidikan Perubatan, Fakulti Perubatan dan Sains Kesihatan (FPSK) Dr. Fatimah Ahmedy sebagai moderator disiarkan secara langsung setiap hari Khamis jam 10 pagi melalui laman Facebook Rasmi UMS.

ISNIN, 16 NOVEMBER - Ketua Timbalan Pendaftar Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS), Luqman Ridha Anwar dilantik sebagai Pendaftar baharu UMS.

Beliau yang sebelum ini memegang jawatan sebagai Timbalan Pengarah (Pengurusan dan Operasi) Hospital UMS dilantik ke jawatan tersebut berkuat kuasa 13 November 2020 bagi menggantikan Vina Zahriani Yusof yang menggalas tanggung jawab sebagai Pendaftar UMS sejak 13 November 2018.

Luqman Ridha menerima pelantikan tersebut dalam satu acara ringkas penyerahan surat lantikan oleh Naib Canselor UMS, Prof. Datuk ChM. Dr. Taufiq Yap Yun Hin di Pejabat Naib Canselor baru-baru ini.

Dalam acara sama, Datuk ChM. Dr. Taufiq Yap turut menyampaikan surat pelantikan semula Ketua Pustakawan UMS, Zawawi Tiyunin yang juga berkuat kuasa 13 November 2020.