Sabah News Flash

No Increase in University Fees Despite Budget Cut

Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Idris Jusoh said that despite the budget cut for the combined operating budget of public universities, there will be no increase in university fees.  This is part of the 10-year Education Blueprint which aims to reduce dependency of public universities on government funding.  At present, they rely heavily on government funds with up to 90 per cent of their operating budget.  By 2025, their target is to reduce it to 70 per cent which means more budget cuts in the coming years.

Reduction in operating budgets does not mean getting more from the students.  The Higher Education Ministry issued the Purple Playbook in July that serves as a guideline for universities to tap other sources of income, with a Key Performance Indicator to evaluate how they approach this target.  Publication of journals, conduct of training, alumni pledges and research grants are just a few suggestions to enhance their income.

Budget for Increased Broadband Services and R&D in Universities

Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Idris Jusoh expressed his appreciation for the upgrading of Ethernet broadband services in public universities as indicated in the 2017 National Budget.  An increase from the present 2 gigabytes or 3 gigabytes per second (GBPS) to 100 GBPS is a great help to students, especially for those on digital online learning programs.  Students can also make use of online tools, such as videoconferencing and audio visuals, to enhance their learning experience and to access information faster.

Furthermore, Idris was also grateful for the RM400 million budget allocation for research and development in universities.  Funding of this amount is a great help for universities in their pursuit for new discoveries, some of which have earned international recognition for breakthroughs in health and medicine.

Idris was at the opening of the Career Carnival, Exhibition and Sales at Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) Saturday.

FDAM Seeking Assistance from 2017 Budget

The Film Directors Association of Malaysia (FDAM) is hoping that part of the RM80 million for the creative industry in the 2017 Budget can assist the group in its study regarding the local film industry.  According to Syed Zulkifli Syed Nasir, FDAM deputy president, the study is composed of three phases – market size for Malaysian films, both local and foreign markets; weaknesses in relating a story vis-à-vis film content; and advertising and promoting films – and is being conducted by 10 committee members lead by him.

Syed Zulkifli said that the first phase is completed already and results revealed the failure of the film industry to meet the preferences of the local viewers and to enter into the foreign market.  The second phase has started already and will include a research film ‘Hijabsta Ballet‘.  This phase is expected to be completed in 2018.

The 2017 Budget will implement two new initiatives, namely, Film in Malaysia Incentive, Arts and Culture Revitalisation Agenda and the National Film Development Corporation Malaysia (Finas) Content Creation Hub in Sarawak and in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah.

Likas Bay Beach Clean-Up

Custom’s NGO groups organized Saturday a beach clean-up at Likas Bay for the Teluk Likas Beach Clean-Up Community Programme.   According to Customs Department Director Datuk Janathan Kandok, the purpose of the activity was to provide a venue for the participants to become aware of the importance of protecting and preserving nature and to develop sensitivity on environmental issues among younger generations.  Cleaning up the beach areas is a fitting activity to achieve these objectives since these are places where families and tourists usually go to. Other activities for that day were a senamrobik activity and a sandcastle building contest, among others.