New UMS vice chancellor urges staff, students to avoid controversy

0

KOTA KINABALU: Universiti Malaysia Sabah’s (UMS) fifth vice chancellor Professor Dr D Kamarudin D Mudin has called on the university staff and students to avoid controversy and strengthen integrity.

“Let us unite and discard any feelings that can threaten harmony and work towards ensuring the best output for the university, state and country,” he said after receiving his appointment letter as UMS vice chancellor yesterday.

Kamarudin also took over duties yesterday from his predecessor Datuk Dr Mohd Harun Abdullah whose term ended on June 17.

He expressed his gratitude to Harun for the latter’s guidance during his tenure as deputy vice chancellor of Academic and International.

“I hope that all of you will give me the same support as you did to Datuk Harun,” he added.

Meanwhile state education exco Datuk Seri Panglima Masidi Manjun who witnessed the handing over of duties ceremony, said UMS could be described as the ‘heart’ of education in the state as it was a producer of human resource for the state and country.

Masidi who is also Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister, stressed that heading a huge organisation like UMS was not an easy job.

There are many challenges and obstacles to be faced especially when holding the post of vice chancellor, he said, adding that many strategic plannings needed to be done and implemented to improve higher education, especially in Sabah.

“I believe this transition of leadership will be able to generate new and creative ideas to build success for UMS. Other than excelling academically, UMS is now a tourism attraction with its beautiful landscape. This has provided variety to the existing tourist attractions in the state.

“I wish to thank Professor Datuk Harun who led UMS since 2012 for all he has done, especially in turning UMS into an eco campus university that ensures environmental sustainability in teaching and learning as well as ensuring that those in UMS and the local community appreciate our environment.

“To his successor Professor Dr D Kamarudin, I believe and am confident that he too will be able to bring success to UMS. Like what Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Aman had said on the appointment, he believes Professor Dr D Kamarudin’s experience and qualification will be able to guide UMS to greater heights,” Masidi said.