Breeze #169 - The Higher Education Issue

UiTM

Unleashing Potentials, Shaping The Future

Flash december 2022

JOLLY GOLF’IN - MINI GOLF COURSE IS OFFICIALLY OPEN

Kota Kinabalu, 2 December 2022 - Jolly Golf’in, Kota Kinabalu’s newest and latest mini golf course has officially opened its doors. It is the first indoor mini golf course in Sabah and a good attraction for those wanting to enjoy group and family activities. The course features 18 holes, each with its own unique design that provides different types of challenges to players. Jolly Golf’in is located at Jesselton Point (next to Orange 24HR convenience store). For more information, go to www. facebook.com/jollygolfinkk

KINABALU INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL AWARDED ECO SCHOOL GREEN FLAG AWARD

Kota Kinabalu, 5 December 2022 - Kinabalu International School (KIS) has been awarded the prestigious Eco-Schools Green Flag Award in recognition of the environmental work that has been taking place inside and outside of the school over the past few years. Climate change and sustainability is without a doubt the most important issue that our children’s generation will have to face, and they strongly believe that it is their duty to take action and raise awareness of the impact of the climate crisis through their curriculum as well as extra-curricular activities. At the international level, the Eco-School programme is run by the Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE), a non-governmental and non-profit organization aiming to promote sustainable development through environmental education. KIS welcomes collaboration with local schools and communities to expand their sustainable efforts beyond the school community. Find out more at www.kis.edu.my

27TH KOTA KINABALU MUSIC & DANCE FESTIVAL 2022

Scenes during the 27th Kota Kinabalu Music & Dance Festival on 10-11 December 2022.

The festival showcased young acts from various music schools and dance studios. For more information, go to www.kkmusicfestival.my

Image | Noel Jinguli

HOBBYCON 2022

Scenes during HobbyCon 2022 at Sabah International Convention Centre.

Since its inception in 2007, HobbyCon 2022 has grown into one of the biggest events of its kind in East Malaysia, and has become a must-go event for Malaysian con-goers, illustrators, comic artists, toy collectors, gamers, cosplayers and fans.

HobbyCon 2022 is sponsored by Tier One Entertainment, Gank, Sakura Color Malaysia, My Game Store, Hado Malaysia, Borenos Fried Chicken and DLive Studio.

It is organised by Kinabalu Impact, powered by Rema Synergy and endorsed by the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Environment Sabah (KePKAS).

www.hobbycon.my

HYATT CENTRIC KOTA KINABALU CELEBRATES DIVERSE SABAHAN TALENTS WITH INAUGURAL EWAN LANE FESTIVAL

ota Kinabalu, 22 December, 2022 - Following its recent opening in October, Hyatt Centric Kota Kinabalu - the first Hyatt Centric hotel in Malaysia and Southeast Asia hosted an inaugural Ewan Lane Festival on 17 and 18 December 2022. Aimed at promoting Kota Kinabalu’s urban culture and to foster connections with local community, the festival featured street artists, painters, skateboarders, B-Boys and musicians as well as 14 influential and diverse Sabahan artists who performed alongside these emerging young talents.

Ewan Lane, which is located next to Hyatt Centric Kota Kinabalu and known for its colourful street art, was transformed into a carnival-like atmosphere with skateboard ramps, food trucks and market stalls, attracting a huge crowd over the weekend. Activities included street art jam sessions and skateboarding demonstration and competition.

Officially launched on 17 December, the Ewan Lane Festival was attended by key lifestyle influencers from Malaysia and Brunei, local media and featured skateboarders, musicians and street art enthusiasts, in a celebration of hip hop music and culture, extreme sports, dance, design and art. Some of the famed local musicians who performed live at the festival included Benzooloo - a Sabahan rapper, MKNK - a music producer and songwriter, Hip Hop group - Isobahtos, popular DJ Elouise Shane and urban street dancers from Flexible Crew, among many others.

The main highlight of the festival is the open skate demonstration and session with the “Best Tricks” competition to promote the extreme sport which made its debut at the Tokyo Summer Olympics 2021. The winning trophy of the “Best Trick air/ fly” & “Best Trick Grind” skateboard competition went to Mr Presley Aaron.

“Extreme sports have regained enormous popularity in Sabah, especially since its debut in the recent Olympic event. Local skateboarding community in Sabah aims to nurture talents to become future high performance athletes representing

Malaysia for the Olympic Games. Hence, we’d like to applaud Hyatt Centric Kota Kinabalu for this great initiative. The Ewan Lane Festival is not only a perfect platform for our local skateboarders to showcase their talents but also a fun and exciting way to educate people about this sport”, said Azreen Amat of Jungle Skate Class which showcased some impressive young skateboarders or riders during the festival. “As a new hotel with a young and vibrant personality, we wanted to bring the local community together in a fun-filled atmosphere combining three much loved activities by the youths here – arts, music, and extreme sports. We are thrilled by the turnout and the positive feedback and are grateful for everyone’s support to make our first Ewan Lane Festival a success. We hope to make Ewan Lane Festival an annual event moving forward promoting urban culture to bring people together,” said Ruben Schrijver, the General Manager of Hyatt Centric Kota Kinabalu.

Another key highlight was the street art jam which saw an impressive art installation of 10 60cm (height) x 60cm (width) cubes painted by members of the public together with street art enthusiasts and influencers on-site during the festival. Visitors also got to enjoy an array of local snacks like curried cauliflower, spiced lamb rendang with jasmine rice, salt & chilli squid and more, served from the hotel’s ON22 restaurant and as well as other delicious snacks served from a line-up of food trucks amidst colourful market stalls selling local artisanal products.

Ruben Schrijver continued, “Hyatt Centric is a strong supporter of the local street arts scene and we are delighted to offer guided street art tours curated by a resident of Kota Kinabalu, Jared Abdul Rahman, to enable our guests to explore works of street art from raw, organic graffiti to curated, commissioned murals. We look forward to introducing more fresh, authentic and enriching experiences to young, curious and active wanderers visiting and living in Kota Kinabalu.”

UiTM Sabah: Unleashing Potentials, Shaping the Future

Higher learning institutions are a dime a dozen these days. While most of them would still cost an arm and a leg, there are still a few establishments that make it affordable and possible for students to further their education and realise their dreams. One of those establishments is UiTM (Universiti Teknologi MARA), who have been providing high quality education for bumiputeras, especially those who are underprivileged. Let’s walk down memory lane and see how UiTM’s Sabah Branch grew into one of the most respected higher learning institutions in Sabah.

UiTM’s first ever branch campus in Sabah was established on 16 July 1972, located in Sembulan, right in the middle of Kota Kinabalu. At the time, it was known as Yayasan SabahInstitut Teknologi MARA (YS-ITM). The idea of establishing its first branch outside of the main campus (Shah Alam) was made possible with the leadership of the late Tun Dr. Arshad Ayub, the Director of Institut Teknologi MARA at the time and acknowledged as the father of UiTM.

Without the support of the state government, in particular Yayasan Sabah, the YS-ITM campus wouldn’t have been a reality. The effort and work put into by Yayasan Sabah and the Sabah State Government realised the YS-ITM dream to be the driver in pioneering higher education and professional-training in Sabah. YS-ITM was officially launched on 17 August 1973 by the late Tun Datu Hj Mustapha bin Datu Harun. Their first intake consisted of 157 students, all choosing from a total of seven courses that were available at the time.

As the years went by and more students started enrolling, the need to expand and grow became apparent. In 1982, students began to be moved to the new campus in Kuala Menggatal after

dorms and other facilities were built. After all the necessary steps were done in 1991, the new campus was fully operational and it still sits in Kuala Menggatal until today. The name was also changed from YS-ITM to UiTM. Another campus in Tawau was also established on 10 June 1997.

UiTM Sabah Branch is able to accommodate up to 5000 students at a time. As mentioned, the YS-ITM era offered only seven courses for students to choose from, including Diploma in Accountancy and Diploma in Administration. Today, in addition to said examples, UiTM Sabah offers an approximate 20 courses, including pre-diploma and bachelor degree courses. This includes Bachelor of Science (Hons.) Biology, Diploma in Hotel Management, Diploma in Tourism Management, and PreDiploma in Commerce.

The courses offered are in-line with UiTM’s general vision and mission, which are; to establish UiTM as a globally renowned university (GRU2025) in science, technology, humanities,

and entrepreneurship; and to lead the development of agile, professional bumiputeras through state-of-the-art curricula and impactful research, respectively. UiTM’s core values centre around 3 standards, which are:

1. Excellence - Practising internal quality standards to fulfil the stakeholders’ requirements and expectations.

2. Synergy - Collaborating seamlessly to maximise productivity that benefits industry and society.

3. Integrity - Embracing honesty, respect, and transparency to achieve the highest ethical standard of professionalism.

UiTM Sabah has produced some big names over the years. Among them are the current UiTM Sabah Rector, YBHG. Datuk

Associate Professor Dr. Hj. Abdul Kadir bin Hj. Rosline. Other notable alumni include:

1. Tun Richard Malanjum (Former Chief Justice Malaysia)

2. Tan Sri Musa Aman (Former Chief Minister of Sabah)

3. YB Datuk Seri Panglima Masidi Manjun (Minister of Finance Sabah)

4. YB Datuk Ir. Shahelmey Yahya

5. YB Azhar Matussin

6. Dr. Ramle Hj. Kasin (Director General of Malaysian Cocoa Board)

7. Datuk Hajah Diyanah Abdullah (Deputy of State Secretary)

8. Professor Dr. Rasid Mail (UMS Deputy Vice-Chancellor of Academic and International)

9. Associate Professor Dr. Raman Noordin (UMS Deputy Vice- Chancellor of Student Affairs and Alumni)

10. Datuk Hajah Rosmawati Haji Lasuki (CEO of SICC)

11. Datuk Madiyem Layapan (CEO Invest Sabah Berhad)

12. Dr. Dionysia Aloysius Kibat (CEO of SMJ Sdn Bhd)

13. Cheryl Ellron (CEO and Founder of Makan Bites LTD)

14. Sylvia Pius Labani (GM of Kim Teck Cheong Development Sdn Bhd)

15. Mohamad Afiq bin Zuber (Deputy Public Prosecutor Selangor)

16. Sudermaje bin Iscolto (State GM Pos Malaysia Sabah & Labuan)

Students of UiTM Sabah have also made the branch proud in terms of sports. In 2022, they brought home a number of medals, notably Nurulfarra Adeeba binti Muhammad Ridhwan who took home gold in the field bowling event during SUKMA XX, while Intan Qistina binti Tamring got gold in tenpin bowling during the 33rd Interstate Championship. An annual tournament among UiTM branches across Malaysia called the Karnival Sukan Mahasiswa (KARiSMA) was also held in 2022, with the UiTM Sabah branch bringing home 3 bronze and a silver medal.

UiTM Sabah are collaborating with Unit Agenda Bumiputera - Teraju (Teraju) to develop entrepreneurs through freshwater lobster and chilli fertigation projects aimed at the B40 segment in an effort to empower the economic development of bumiputeras in Sabah. They also have collaborations with:

1. Ministry of Local Government and Housing

2. Ministry of Science, Technology, and Innovation

3. Yayasan Sabah Group

4. Majlis Ugama Islam Sabah (MUIS)

5. Kadazandusun Cultural Association (KDCA)

6. Qhazanah Sabah Berhad

7. Sabah Credit Corporation

8. Sawit Kinabalu Group

9. Sabah Land Development Board

10. Sabah Creative Economy and Innovation Centre (SCENIC)

11. Sabah Parks

12. Petronas

13. Maybank

14. TikTok

15. Asia-China Education and Culture Association (ACEC)

As you’ve noticed, the UiTM Sabah has a remarkable history under their belt. They’ve become an established name in the education sector of Sabah and have continued to prove to the world their capabilities in producing students, graduates, and professionals of the highest quality. Let’s all see what the future holds for UiTM Sabah as they continue their mission in changing destinies and shaping futures for the people.

by Noel Jinguli Image | UiTM Sabah Branch

I WANNA DANCE WITH SOMEBODY

Release Date: 5 January 2023

Genre: Biography, Drama, Music

Director: Kasi Lemmons

Cast: Naomi Ackie, Stanley Tucci, Ashton Sanders

A joyous, emotional, heartbreaking celebration of the life and music of Whitney Houston, one of the greatest female R&B pop vocalists of all time, tracking her journey from obscurity to musical superstardom.

M3GAN

Release Date: 5 January 2023

Genre: Horror, Sci-Fi, Thriller

Director: Gerard Johnstone

Cast: Allison Williams, Violet McGraw, Ronny Chieng

A robotics engineer at a toy company builds a life-like doll that begins to take on a life of its own, which causes unimaginable consequences.

MUMMIES

Release Date: 19 January 2023

Genre: Animation, Comedy, Family

Director: Juan Jesús García Galocha

Cast: Joe Thomas, Eleanor Tomlinson, Santiago Winder

Three mummies end up in present-day London and embark on a journey in search of an old ring belonging to the Royal Family, stolen by the ambitious archaeologist Lord Carnaby.

We don’t see duo groups that work well with each other too often these days, especially one with members who have established themselves in the music scene. However, Amin Wali and Feroq Jayfiena work so well with each other, making the “power duo” term an understatement. Not to be reckoned with, this uncle and nephew duo shows that family ties make for a strong bond to achieve something meaningful in the entertainment industry.

Before establishing the group, both Amin and Feroq were known for their separate solo careers in the music industry. Like two birds of a feather, both of them seemed inseparable and decided to form Bfore3. The two of them have such powerful vocals that perfectly complement each other. The story about the name having “3” in it while they’re just a duo is that they didn’t want a cliche duo name. Amin’s brother Ziyo simply suggested “Bfore3” since the number 2 is before the number 3.

In 2021, Bfore3 released a single called “Ceritera Kita”, in conjunction with Mental Health Month. Although the pandemic was one of the inspirations for the song, the lyrics

music

have no mention of it at all. Instead, they wanted to release a song that anyone can relate to when it comes to mental health issues and fighting to overcome them. No matter who you are or what you’re working as, if you’re going through a rough patch in your life, this song is for you. It’s intended to motivate listeners and give them strength in life. It was produced by Jun (Juntingzon Production) and the music video was sponsored by Level 4 Studio & Think Big Management Consultant Sdn Bhd. The launching of the single and music video was a touching moment for both Amin and Feroq. Seeing their efforts and the efforts of all who supported them come to light was a huge moment in their lives.

Bfore3 love to perform for live audiences, no matter the gig or corporate functions. They don’t consider themselves as only singers but as entertainers. Their performances usually have them interacting with the crowd with quick and spontaneous jokes and quips. This allows them to grab the attention of the crowd and break the ice before the performance. Bfore3 usually brainstorms on how they’ll approach different crowds for different events and relate it to the songs they’ll perform.

Bfore3 have plans of releasing a few more singles. Although with their busy schedules and solo careers, Amin and Feroq are always making time for future Bfore3 music. Let’s all stay tuned for more of Bfore3 and what they have to offer.

Even though Amin is the uncle, he is just 5 years older than Feroq.

Bfore3: Dynamic uncle and nephew duo group

Image | Bfore3

Fun Fact!

@bfore3 Bfore3

tech

building with ai Artificial Intelligence Smart Properties

Glowbest Sdn Bhd introduces their new managing director, Benny Ng. He innovatively introduced the first property development with (AI Smart) artificial intelligence smart devices in Sabah. Glowbest is a 36-year-old reliable developer firm that was handed over to him by his father who went into retirement. Benny has been in the business for 20 years till today. Benny envisioned such innovation in his project Lido Plaza Phase 2. In no time the Government noticed his high-tech, smart, and green concept. They invited him to a joint venture in developing the first AI Smart GLC cooperate office, Menara Desa in Kolombong.

A.I. Smart Property

Advancement of technology made smart building devices link to the internet, allowing household electronics, switches, cleaning devices, lights and many more, to be remotely controlled. These devices have been improved and upgraded with artificial intelligence. This enabled these devices to be automated with commands and act smartly on its own. These devices are now at an affordable price and enables developers to put them into their developments.

The Vision

He told us he kept this idea for 20 years and would only be able to implement such a science fiction concept today, thanks to the advancement and affordability of such a system. He encourages everyone in Sabah to go for AI Smart buildings, so we can gradually turn Kota Kinabalu and other cities into smart cities. He also encourages young developers and government housing to adopt such a concept.

Image | Glow Best Sdn. Bhd.

Lido Plaza 2

Benny & his father Edward

Benny Ng

Were past cars better compared to today?

They don’t make them like they used to” is a phrase I’ve heard and used when comparing cars in the past. However, I never really thought about whether classic cars were actually better compared to modern cars we see on our roads today. I mean, sure today’s cars have all the technology but they seem to lack passion, right? Or am I just in denial? Well, let’s talk about it.

Let’s start off with something that’s easier to compare, the performance. Movies and video games always portray classic sports cars and muscle cars being faster, or at least being on par with modern cars these days. So, it must be true, right? Well, to be honest, this point should go to modern cars. With the advances in science and technology, modern cars would easily outrun classic cars in the same class. In some cases, even modern compact or family cars can easily outperform classic sports cars. Plus, most cars today get better mileage and handle better too.

This leads us into the safety aspects of cars and it’s no competition. Modern cars are much safer compared to classic cars. This goes back to technology and how they’re implemented into our cars to make them safer, especially in case of accidents. Classic cars didn’t have this luxury. Past a certain point in time, seatbelts were actually optional while the chassis and bodywork weren’t designed with safety measures like cars today. With collision detection, airbags, seatbelts, and better overall chassis design, modern cars have the edge when it comes to safety.

Looks, however, are very subjective when it comes to cars. Some will say cars of yesteryear look better while cars these days look pretty much the same. I’ve realised however, that it’s because we only remember the ones we like and find striking. The malaise era of American cars produced many of the same looking boxy cars that were made to “compete” with each other. Plus, if you think older cars were more attractive, remember the Ford Pinto, Fiat Multipla, or even the Proton Tiara? All in all, it’s a tie in the looks department between modern and classic cars.

So, why then are a majority of people partial to older cars? One word, nostalgia. Some may have fond memories regarding certain cars, and therefore tend to see the more positive aspects of them as opposed to the negatives. Though, I’d like to add that the feeling and sense of driving an older car still feels slightly better. Whichever side you’re on, cars continue to improve since we know what was missing from cars of the past.

by Noel Jinguli Image | Various Sources

Turtle Islands Park: The Best Turtle Sanctuary of Borneo

S

ea turtles are unsung heroes of maintaining a healthy coral reef ecosystem and food chain balance in the ocean. They are also the important assets of tourism in Sabah. Unfortunately, all seven species of sea turtles are on the endangered list (IUCN Red List).

Luckily, sea turtles are fully protected in Sabah, as well as their main nesting grounds in Sulu Sea, the Turtle Islands Park, which is about 40 kilometers to the north of Sandakan, Sabah. Turtle Islands Park comprises the islands of Selingan, Gulisaan and Bakkungaan Kecil, covering a protected area of some 1,740 hectares, of which 18.2 hectares are on land while 1,721.8 hectares at sea.

Only Selingan Island, which provides accommodation and basic facilities, is open to tourists, who will witness three stages of a turtle life by looking at the hatchery for the eggs, releasing of hatchlings and nesting of mother turtles in close distance.

To visit Selingan Island, you need to contact Crystal Quest to book a 2-day-1-night tour. Turtle Islands Park is managed by Sabah Parks, but they are focus on conservation and offload the tour booking and activities to Crystal Quest. The tour to Selingan is always full so you better book this popular trip a few months in advance.

Turtle Hatchery

The first thing that you would notice on Selingan Island is the turtle hatchery zones with thousand of turtle nests.

Turtle Nesting

After dinner time, you will get to watch nesting of mother turtles in close distance. The number of turtle landings at the Turtle

Island Park has increased to between 6,000 to 15,000 annually since 1991. It’s safe to say that Turtle Islands Park is one of the most important nesting sites for green turtles in the world.

Releasing Baby Turtles

The next program is the releasing of baby turtles to the wild. You get to watch cute many baby turtles with the guide of rangers to enter that water. More than 19 million hatchlings have been released into the sea in Turtle Islands Park.

Selingan Island has other attractions/activities as well, such as its beautiful white sandy beach, spotting interesting wildlife animals (monitor lizards, Philippines megapodes, hermit crabs), snorkeling, and nice sunrise view over the Philippines islands.

For bookings:

Crystal Quest

Website: turtleisland.com.my

Facebook: Turtleislandresortsandakan

Whatsapp: +60 11-5166 5923

by mySabah.com Image | mySabah.com

Staying true to its Purpose of Brewing for a Better Today and Tomorrow, Carlsberg Malaysia collaborated with Ripple (Sabah Recycling Association) to pilot-test a three-year glass bottle recycling and community empowerment programme named CarlsBot. Committing towards its Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) agenda, the brewer has cocreated a glass bottle ecosystem with Ripple to recycle its nonreturnable glass bottles in Kota Kinabalu by empowering local communities to tackle waste and generate income.

The CarlsBot programme will address the mounting issue of disposal, collection and recycling of glass bottles in Kota Kinabalu through the three-year programme, which will take place from end 2022 to 2025. The programme’s namesake takes cue from its famous flagship brand ‘Carlsberg’ – “Carls” while “Bot” refers to a “ro-bot” or machine that can crush glass “bottle”, hence the name “CarlsBot”. The CarlsBot machine can crush approximately 600kg of glass bottles in an hour, which is equivalent to 2,352 pints of Carlsberg glass bottles.

For year one, three CarlsBot machines will be made available in Kota Kinabalu at the Tanjung Aru Marine Ecosystem Center (TAME) and two community centres in Luyang and Kingfisher. These made-in-Sabah CarlsBot machines can generate income for Sabahans whilst reducing glass waste in the beautiful Land Below the Wind. The CarlsBot machine, brainchild of a native Sabahan inventor, Adrian Lasimbang of TONIBUNG (Friends of Village Development), was inspired by other glass bottles crushers in the market which he then improvised to provide a solution to the overflow of un-recycled glass bottles that end up in landfills.

With the crushed glass produced by CarlsBot in the forms of cullet, coarse sand and fine sand, Ripple provides the recycled materials to local communities and trains them with

entrepreneurial, innovation, marketing and sales skills to repurpose the glass bottle waste into materials which can be used in various beneficial ways.

Tressie Yap, Chairperson of Ripple said at the launch of Project CarlsBot, “Because we believe very much that small actions lead to big changes, we are very proud and excited to collaborate with a reputable brewer like Carlsberg Malaysia who will provide us with the funding to operate, manage and monitor the CarlsBot programme, a three-year glass bottle ecosystem to effect changes with our network of NGOs and social enterprises including TAME, TONIBUNG, Siung Films, Upcycled Shack, Moyog Innovation House, PACOS Trust and One Ocean Empire on a local grassroots level that will consequently have much larger impacts on the lives of the communities in Kota Kinabalu and the environment of Sabah.”

Managing Director of Carlsberg Malaysia, Stefano Clini expressed gratitude for dedication and partnership with likeminded NGOs to handle the B2C glass bottle collection: “We are hopeful that with the support of Ripple, together with our distributors Kwong Hin (HK) Sdn. Bhd. and Bondestiny Sdn. Bhd. to handle the B2B glass bottle collection, Project CarlsBot will start on a strong footing to deliver a complete ecosystem. Upon the completion of this pilot programme, we hope that it will be in a solid position to deliver a positive impact to the ecology and economy of the communities in Kota Kinabalu and other parts of Borneo. Our target is to collect at least 30% of our products’ glass bottles in Kota Kinabalu.”

Carlsberg Malaysia pilots CarlsBot in Sabah via Ripple Sabah

Image | Noel Jinguli

datuk ASSOC. prof. dr. haji abdul kadir rosline: developing the youth of sabah personality

We had the opportunity and the pleasure of sitting down with Datuk Associate Professor Dr. Hj. Abdul Kadir Rosline, the Rector of Universiti Teknologi MARA Sabah Branch, commonly referred to as UiTM Sabah, for this month’s personality story. As we highlight the theme of higher education this month, we felt it was the opportune time for this theme being it is the first month of the year 2023.

Datuk Assoc. Prof. Dr. Haji Abdul Kadir Rosline

When he was being interviewed for the post of a lecturer, what he shared with the panel earned him the job. His passion for giving back to UiTM from what he gained when he was a student, to how it shaped him as a person, gave them the confidence that he was the right candidate for the job. To top off this experience, when he returned home to Keningau for the Aidil Fitri celebrations, his supportive mother was proud to see his success. Even with differing views of a career path, Kadir’s father respected his determination to succeed in a field he’s always pursued.

Abdul Kadir is a humble Sabahan who hails from Keningau. His parents are both from Ranau but they moved to Keningau and settled in Kampung Bayangan, Keningau which is where he was born and raised. Kadir shared with us his kampung winning prestigious national awards Anugerah Desa Cemerlang (ADC) Peringkat Kebangsaan 2004 and Anugerah Desa Gemilang (ADG) Peringkat Kebangsaan 2008 awarded by the then YAB Prime Minister himself.

While in primary school in Keningau, most kids in primary 4 wanted to grow up to get a glamorous dream job or career, Kadir however, told his teacher that he wanted to be a teacher like her. She was touched by the sentiment as Kadir was her first student who wanted to be a teacher. Apparently, this is not unusual for Keningau locals as many families hold education to be very important and most families have members who are interested in the field of public education or becoming a religious teacher.

He managed to show his excellent performance in education involving religious classes and in his regular school classes. However, he somehow became more complacent and consequently distracted from his educational pursuit. As a result, he dropped out of his lower six education and went back to Keningau to work in odd jobs, to Sabah Finance and finally to UiTM which was known as YS-ITM then as a student. This was where he realised the worldly challenges of life meeting people who had diverse backgrounds from other parts of the country and lecturers from foreign countries. He focused to improve himself and overcome his weaknesses by learning from his lecturers as well as his peers.

After completing his education in YS-ITM, he found a job in Keningau as a part time teacher but before he even got a chance to start teaching he got called back to YS-ITM to be an administrative assistant and they say the rest is history. A history that blossomed from administration to lecturer to manager that led him finally to the post of Rector for UiTM Sabah.

Despite his humble beginnings, he believes that he is still the same person he was from before. He believes in striving to do his best on a daily basis. He believes that UiTM has a massive role to play for the country, particularly in helping the youth realise their potential and giving them a place to explore their options to reach their goals and dreams. This is especially for those from the rural areas of Sabah. He is a firm believer that UiTM Sabah can still grow in terms of its size and curriculum as there will always be a segment of the population in Sabah that can benefit from what UiTM has to offer.

His passion for being an educator continues from when he started as a junior lecturer until today as a senior lecturer and UiTM Sabah’s Rector. He loves spending time with the students during retreat programs sharing with them the options they have for their studies and future destinies. He continues to find ways to help the students and the faculty & staff through the many creative ideas and plans that he has achieved and is still working towards this. We have to keep a keen eye on UiTM to see the many new things that will be happening.

Kadir shared with us that he always tries to stay true to his philosophy of life. “Being crystal clear of what you want to achieve in the future and to persevere until you achieve it”. He shares that with everyone so that one day when he leaves UiTM, the next generation will be able to carry on with a noble vision of the university. The institution still has a long way to go to be the best it can be. It is indeed respectful to see that their collaborations with other institutions are worldwide and they are truly on their way to realise their vision of becoming a globally renowned university by 2025 (GRU2025).

Finally, we want to take this time to wish Abdul Kadir a happy birthday as 30th January is his birthday. “Happy Birthday Datuk” and we wish you continued success for UiTM for many more years to come.

by Mohammad Iskandar Image | Ivan Valeris

fitness

new year, new resolution and new goals

As we enter the new year, a lot of us will be coming up with our annual resolutions and goals. Why not let this be the year you finally put in the effort to start exercising! Whether the goal is to look your best or for general health, this is definitely something everyone should be looking into if you have not committed to exercising as part of your lifestyle yet.

When it comes to fitness, there are a few things that a beginner can do in order to get started and make the most of their time. Starting out, it’s important to prioritise cardiovascular fitness. Doing cardio is one of the simplest ways to get into exercising as you only really need yourself to get started! Start by increasing your daily step count, then get confident enough to go for slow jogs at your local neighbourhood or park. Cardio helps prevent cardiovascular diseases by strengthening the heart, it also helps burn off calories from the occasional snacking we all do.

Secondly, strength training is important. Strength training will help you build muscle and strengthen your joints. Having more muscle also increases your metabolism, allowing you to have a larger caloric quota! Strength training can also have a great carryover to many scenarios in life that requires more physicality. If you’ve always been afraid to sign up for a gym, you can always start with bodyweight workouts at the comfort

of your own home! Remember that if you are starting from zero, anything will be better than nothing.

Finally, be sensible with your expectations. Don’t try to do too much too quickly. Start by doing what feels comfortable and gradually increase your intensity and volume over time, this process is called Progressive Overload. You wouldn’t wanna go all out and burn out in a few months. Exercise and fitness should be part of your life for as long as possible!

Reach us on our Instagram if you think we can help you with anything at all. Personal Training, Group Classes and Nutrition Coaching available in Hustle Fitness!

by Joshua Tsen Image | Unsplash

Gaining knowledge and learning something new is a continuous life process. It doesn’t stop once you’ve finished school or college. Taking on new skills for work, accidentally reading new information, getting lessons from the people around you is all part of the process. It might seem trivial or something we don’t even notice, but it’s an important part of life. Why? Well, here are the answers to that question.

Broadens our minds and knowledge

The most obvious reason to learn is also the most important. It helps us look at things in new perspectives that we didn’t expect to see. Broadening our minds also helps us become more aware of how the things around us work. We’ll either scratch the surface of something that’s completely new to us or have a deeper well of knowledge to dive into when needed, one thing’s for sure, it’ll always be helpful one way or another.

Improves our work prospects

Depending on what field you’re in, it makes sense that continuous learning helps improve your position in the workplace or get that job offer you’ve always wanted. Considering what you should learn and tailoring your skills based on your dream job will make a huge difference in how your employers will look at your work performance.

Makes social engagements better

This isn’t a point to brag about our knowledge on certain topics but to make it easier for us to fit into a conversation. When we’re generally knowledgeable about the issues and things around us, people tend to feel more comfortable speaking to us since we’re at least familiar with the topic. However, don’t ever feel like you’re looked down on if you’re not familiar with a topic, it’s still a chance to learn something new.

Helps us adapt

Be it in work, social settings, or wherever, some setbacks are bound to happen. Not only can these setbacks teach us something new, but they can also help us adapt to future setbacks that may come our way. We might know how to solve said issues immediately through our past experience, or simply adapt and react.

If you ever think you’d stop learning or should stop learning, then you should change that mindset. Learning is an important part of life. We learn something new everyday, whether we realise it or not.

WHAT IS MEIBOMIAN GLAND DYSFUNCTION?

What are Meibomian Glands?

Meibomian Glands are the tiny oil glands which line the margin of the eyelids. These glands secrete oil which coats the surface of our eyes and keeps the water component of our tears from evaporating (drying out). Together, the water and the oil layer make up the tear film.

The tear film lubricates and keeps the surface of our eyes healthy; it also affects how we see. If either the water or oil layer is decreased or is of poor quality, we may have symptoms of irritation and/or blurred vision.

What is MGD?

Meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD) refers to the condition where the glands are not secreting enough oil or when the oil they secrete is of poor quality. Often the oil gland openings get plugged up so that less oil comes out of the glands. The oil that does make it out of the glands can be granular or crusty and unhealthy which can cause irritation.

MGD is vey common in the early stages, patients are often asymptomatic but if left untreated, MGD can cause or exacerbate dry eye symptoms and eyelid inflammation. The oil glands become blocked with thickened secretions. Chronically clogged glands eventually become unable to secrete oil which results in permanent changes in the tear film and dry eyes. Symptoms include dryness, burning, itching, crustiness, watering, light sensitivity, red eyes, foreign body sensation and styes.

by Dr Lisa Tan Sor Earn Consultant Ophthalmologist and Refractive Surgeon

What is the treatment for MGD?

There are various ways to improve eyelid/eyelash hygiene to clear off the dead skin, oil and bacteria which build up. Because this is a chronic condition, treatment and prevention treatment must be done every day and should include all or some of the following:

• Warm compresses

• Lid scrubs and massage, meibomian gland expression

• Omega 3 fatty acids: Flaxseed and Fish oil

Lid hygiene helps remove oil, bacteria and debris which block the oil gland openings. Use a Q-tip or a warm washcloth on the tips of your fingers to gently scrub along the lash line on the top and bottom eyelids. You can use dilute baby shampoo (a few drops in a small cup of water). Lid scrubs should be done once a day.

Alternatively, eyelid wipes are designed specifically to be gentle and effective at cleansing the fragile area around the eyelids and lashes.

For more advanced MGD, BlephEx is a painless in-office procedure performed by trained technician to very precisely spin a soft medical grade micro-sponge along the edge of your eyelids and lashes. This procedure effectively removes years of accumulated bacterial biofilm.

DENTAL Chewing Gum For Oral Health?

We’ve all heard that candy is not good for oral health as they can increase the likelihood of cavities forming. However, this isn’t entirely true, as some types of chewing gum can help you keep your oral health in check. Together with Dr. Sylvia Lim of Phi Dental, let’s take a look at how chewing gum can lead to better oral health in the long run.

First of all, let me get this out of the way. Like everything in life, doing or eating an excessive amount of something isn’t always good for our health in general. The same goes for chewing gum. Plus, to be more specific when it comes to this topic, Dr. Sylvia states that chewing SUGARLESS gum is good for oral health. It’s been shown to increase saliva flow, therefore reducing plaque acid, strengthening the teeth, and reducing tooth decay.

However, sugarless gum doesn’t necessarily mean gum that doesn’t taste good. Chewing gum that contains a natural sweetener called Xylitol can effectively prevent cavities. Xylitol also helps neutralise acids made by bacteria, keeping tooth enamel strong, which is an important benefit in fighting tooth decay. Some chewing gum have added casein phosphopeptideamorphous calcium phosphate, or Raceldent for short. This substance has been shown to remineralise or slow down tooth decay. However, those who are allergic to milk are advised to

stay away from any products containing Recaldent. Another note is, for anyone who is suffering from temporomandibular joint disorder, keep in mind chewing gum excessively can strain your jaw and worsen your symptoms.

So, when should you chew gum? Well, chewing gum for 20 minutes after a meal can help remove food debris and increase your saliva flow. Saliva actually strengthens tooth enamel as it carries phosphate and calcium. We don’t suggest chewing gum all day, maybe limiting it to five or six pieces per day. Like I mentioned above, chewing gum after or between meals is good practice.

There you go, if you’re an avid gum chewer, this is definitely good news. Chewing gum does have health benefits that keep your mouth healthy. Do keep in mind that this mainly applies for sugarless chewing gum and not doing excessively throughout your day.

by Noel Jinguli Image | Unsplash

RANTS & RAVES Paper or experience

This has been age old discussion for many I’m sure. Parents insisting their children get that degree. It doesn’t matter if you don’t enjoy it or that you most likely will find a job that has nothing to do with your degree, they think they are doing the best thing for you or perhaps for the family name. Old habits die hard. In the past, the attitude was also that if all you had was experience then it was obvious you didn’t have money to get that piece of paper. Some felt not having it made them inadequate or shameful. This really isn’t the case though.

Back in the day when I was young one, I believed it was all about getting a degree. That was my goal; get my degree, work for the experience then get married but you know how life likes to mess with you. I believed that if you worked hard enough in school, you could definitely enter a higher education institution. Either you had good grades and you could get a scholarship or the family would pay to get you into university, subject to you meeting the requirements of course.

I was wrong and oh so naive. It isn’t easy to get into a university sometimes. It didn’t even matter if you had perfect grades. That’s just unfair. Lesson learnt. The truth is school isn’t for everyone, parents need to realize this and reduce the extreme pressure they have placed on their children. Allow them to find what interests them while going to school. Explore avenues that were not there when you were young, allow them to try and fail and then, try again.

In the time I was privileged enough to interview people for this magazine, many and I mean many, started out with getting the paper qualification their parents wanted for them and then they turned around and pursued what they had always been passionate about. I also remember chatting with a vet I had to send my cat to decades ago who said he went into veterinary school because he had to and not cause he loved animals. I almost picked up my cat and ran. I didn’t see passion and it scared me.

But I digress, I know many who weren’t able or who weren’t interested in furthering their education and you know what? The experience of working and learning the ropes was extremely valuable. Many successful people don’t have paper qualification, they have experience. In fields of skilled trades such as electricians, plumbers and carpenters, experience is valued more. Wouldn’t you agree?

I personally have found pleasure in teaching and writing, both have nothing to do with my degree but I have no regrets. I believe having that foundation is good when you apply for that first job but you know what will make a difference then onwards? Experience.

by Noor F.Z. Ali Image | Unsplash

POP CULTURE

The Addams Family Legacy

F

amilies that stick together, stay together. Or at least that’s how the saying goes. Well, there’s a family that’s been together through thick and thin, especially when they’re one of the weirdest and creepiest families to ever grace pop culture. And just like how they’re portrayed to be immortal, the Addams Family always seems to rise back up like a phoenix. They might literally be..immortal.

Introduced by a cartoonist named Charles Addams in 1938, the Addams Family started out as a single-panel cartoon in The New Yorker newspaper. The family consists of Gomez, the head of the family, his wife Morticia, their children Wednesday and Pugsley, and Gomez’s brother, Fester. The panel usually shows a family with gothic vibes and clothes doing mundane activities in their own unsettling way. These traits were amplified in a comedic way through TV adaptations in 1964 to 1977, which caused a rise in popularity for the family.

In the 90’s, two live action films were released to further cement the Addams in the hearts of the public. The first movie did well in the box office but critics didn’t take it too well. The sequel, Addams Family Values, weirdly had an inverse reception. Unfortunately, due to the death of Raul Julia, the actor who played Gomez, a third movie wasn’t produced. Personally, these movies and the 1992 animated series are what set the standards

for an Addams Family pop culture phenomenon. This might be one of the reasons that the 2019 and 2021 animated films received less than positive reception.

However, all was not lost as a recent Netflix series might’ve helped catapult the Addams name back into the limelight. “Wednesday” is a live action series that follows one of the Addams children as the lead character, as she investigates a series of murders and untangles conspiracies. The series received positive reviews by critics and audiences alike and has already made it in meme culture as well. Although it mainly follows Wednesday, appearances by the other family members and their quirkiness have made many feel nostalgic.

Whether you adore them or not, you can’t deny that the Addams Family have always been a household name. Here’s to more of the Addams and their unconventional way of living.

by Noel Jinguli Image | Various Sources

SOY SAUCE BEEF Food

INGREDIENTS

• 1kg beef (sliced)

• 4 slices of ginger

• 2 chopped garlic

• 1 stick cinnamon

• 3 star anise

• 1 tablespoon sugar

• Salt & pepper to taste

• 4 tablespoon of dark soya sauce

• Water until meat is soft

• 5 tablespoon of oil

• Red & green chili for garnishing

METHOD

1. Heat oil in a pan then add garlic, ginger, cinnamon stick, star anise stir until combine.

2. Add beef and stir until color turned brown. Add 4 cups of water, keep adding water until meat is soft.

3. Add dark soya sauce, sugar, salt & pepper.

4. Mix until combined. Add garnishing ready to serve.

by Beverly Chow www.quicktakesorder.blogspot.com Image | Beverly Chow

Dapur Moanna & Yaya is another successful baking business story that survived the pandemic and still carried on till this day. It was founded by May Chong with her sister Leanna Chong by her side running the business. May being the baker and Leanna the promoter. Dapur Moanna & Yaya were named after their respective children.

For a brighter future, May & Leanna moved to Kota Kinabalu from their hometown Sipitang. It was in Kota Kinabalu that Dapur Moanna & Yaya grew their clientele to a point that business is currently running well.

The sisters run Dapur Moanna & Yaya from their home in Likas, where they produce their cakes, pastries, cookies, buns, and sometimes Korean snacks like Gimbab and fried chicken. Famous bestsellers include lemon drizzle cake, chocolate chip cookies, and Korean garlic cheese bun. Menu items can be delivered outside of Kota Kinabalu as well (subject to early pre-order).

Kedai kupi of the month

DAPUR MOANNA & YAYA

Dapur Moanna & Yaya has been a blessing for the sisters where they get to meet new people, learn new things, and create a greater bond between them. In the future, they hope to open a physical shop to run the business from there.

restaurant review

Let’s Cha Cha Into The New Year

From the makers of Biru Biru, is the all new Cha Cha cafe & bar at Sutera Avenue, Kota Kinabalu. If you’re looking for a new spot to try out food & drinks in 2023, this is it.

As my team and I entered Cha Cha, we noticed the lovely interior which is definitely different from most other eateries in Kota Kinabalu. I love the fact that the place has its own unique sections, each with its own vibe. The kind of interior that invites you back to try sitting at a different section or simply have a favourite. With that said, each one of them is very Instagrammable. What is for sure, this is definitely a place that is designed for customers to chill out and enjoy good conversations as well.

But of course, let’s get straight to the food and drinks. Rest assured, our first impression is really good! When it comes to food, they have an impressive array of western & asian menu items. We were served with Kahanga (sea snail) & Egg, Smoked Duck Bao, Tom Yum Spaghetti, Black Pepper Beef Rice and their Signature ABC. No joke... All of them hit the sweet spot when it comes to taste.

If you want to be more adventurous, try the Kahanga which I haven’t seen at other eateries. I love duck and the Smoked Duck Bao didn’t disappoint. A tasty classic done right at Cha Cha. I

love beef too and although the Black Pepper Beef Rice might be something you easily find elsewhere, Cha Cha’s version is really delicious and served with a generous portion of tender beef. The same can be said about their Signature ABC, which is great for dessert. And not to forget the Tom Yum Spaghetti, is also recommended for you pasta lovers who are into and want to try a fusion version. The Tom Yum bit is not overpowering and taste just nice with the spaghetti.

For drinks we had Hot Latte with Jungle Bird and Asam Boi cocktails. Latte was good and the cocktails were refreshing. Go for Asam Boi if you want a cocktail with a local touch (infused with lihing).

Overall, the food and drinks are great. My team and I are excited to come back here again for the rest of the menu items. Again and for that, we really recommend you to come here. Especially since it’s a new spot, which I’m not surprised if it becomes a favourite spot as well. It is definitely a favourite for me now.

I also have to emphasise though as mentioned before, Cha Cha is also great to chill out and enjoy good conversations. Something that the founders are really passionate about for the customers. The atmosphere of the place suits very well for such a reason whether over coffee or tea during daytime or cocktails after dinner.

Nuff said. Let’s Cha Cha into the new year!

Location: Ground floor (opposite Kopi Ping), Sutera Avenue, KK City

Opening hours: 12pm-12am (closed on Mondays)

Call/WhatsApp: +6018-660 5993

Instagram: @hellochacha.kk

Facebook: Cha Cha

Signature ABC

Hot Latte

Jungle Bird Cocktail Asam Boi Cocktail

Tom Yum Spaghetti Black Pepper Beef Rice

Kahanga & Egg

Smoked Duck Bao

by Dinoza Mahruf Image | Noel Jinguli

nightlife

LIGHT IN THE CITY 3.0 | 10 December 2022 |

Sabah International Convention Centre

Light In The City aims to bring people closer together through a Christmas experience with live music featuring local artists, a sense of community, and festive cheer.

@lightinthecitykk