Tanda aras 3.0 cabaran kepada pelajar baru PPK

Dekan Pusat Pengajian Komunkasi (PPK), Prof Madya Adnan Hussein mengharapkan supaya pelajar perintis universiti APEX di pusat pengajian ini menjadi model contoh kepada universiti dengan menetapkan tanda aras CGPA 3.0 sebagai cabaran asas untuk mereka perolehi dalam keputusan pengajian mereka sepanjang berada di USM.

"This is the type of students we want in an APEX university (inilah jenis pelajar yang kita mahu dalam universiti APEX ini). Malah kalau boleh kita mahukan lebih ramai lagi pelajar mencapai tahap Anugerah Dekan, iaitu CGPA 3.5 dan ke atas," ujarnya penuh semangat.

Dalam ucapan aluannya kepada 120 orang pelajar di Dewan Kuliah U pagi ini, Dekan PPK telah menyatakan keyakinan dan kepercayaannya bahawa kumpulan pelajar ini adalah gabungan calon terbaik pelajar komunikasi yang telah dipilih. Ini, ujar beliau adalah berdasarkan banyak kriteria, termasuk keputusan ujian MUNSYI USM dan juga ketrampilan mereka dalam sessi temuduga.

"Daripada 600 calon yang layak pohon setelah lulus ujian MUNSYI, PPK cuma memanggil 250 orang calon. Dan daripada itu pula, 170 calon yang datang, dan setelah disaring kami hanya memilih 120 orang sahaja. Dan kami mengharapkan 120 orang pelajar ini adalah gabungan terbaik yang dipilih untuk mengikuti pengajian di sini," ujarnya meyakinkan.

Dekan PPK juga mengharapkan agar kumpulan pelajar baru ini melibatkan diri mereka dalam semua aktiviti dan agenda pusat pengajian dan universiti selain agenda komunikasi negara.

"Agenda komunikasi universiti adalah selari dengan agenda universiti, iaitu agenda APEX. Agenda APEX bermaksud transformasi pengajian tinggi ke arah kelestarian untuk hari esok," ujar beliau.

Menyentuh mengenai agenda Millenium Development Goals (MDG) yang diperkenalkan oleh Pertubuhan Bangsa-bangsa Bersatu (UN), iaitu kesepakatan 192 negara dalam UN untuk menghapuskan kemiskinan tegar dan kebuluran menjelang 2015 beliau berkata, "Pelajar juga mesti melibatkan diri mereka dalam agenda MDG ini atau sekurang-kurangnya prihatin mengenai permasalahan kemiskinan dan kebuluran yang menimpa negara-negara termiskin dunia," katanya.

Diakhir ucapannya Dekan mengingatkan pelajar agar menerima cabaran untuk berdikari semasa di universiti selain menjaga hubungan baik dengan pensyarah, staf dan juga sesama pelajar.

"Sebagai universiti contoh, saya mahu pelajar mengambil tindakan proaktif untuk memberi layanan sama rata kepada rakan-rakan mereka sebagaimana universiti ini memberikan layanan tersebut kepada mereka dengan tidak membezakan diri mereka melalui warna kulit, bahasa dan sebagainya. So, get cracking and adapt yourself to the university's surrounding," katanya lagi.

Turut serta mendengar ucapan beliau ialah 40 orang pensyarah dan staf sokongan pusat pengajian di mana di akhir sessi perjumpaan itu Dekan telah memperkenalkan semua pensyarah dan staf kepada pelajar.

Izaham

Hakikat AH1N1 Kini Menjadi Nyata

Amaran atau teguran Dr Irfan Mohamad, Pensyarah Kanan ORL, Pusat Pengajian Sains Perubatan, USM (Utusan 13.6.09) mengenai betapa glamornya influenza A H1N1 yang pada ketika itu jauh lebih ketara berbanding denggi, kini semakin menjadi nyata. Seolah-olah mengiakan kepopularitiannya dengan munculnya gelombang kedua epidemik ini, penularan wabak ini sudah sampai ke tahap membimbangkan.

Perkembangan terkini wabak H1N1 di Malaysia sehingga 28 Jun, 2009, klik di sini----------------------->

Bagaimanapun dalam rencana yang ditulis oleh Mohd Khuzairi Ismail, dia berbeza pendapat dengan kenyataan bahawa ramai yang ambil berat mengenai penularan wabak ini. Barangkali kerana merasakan berada di dalam zon selesa, maka langkah pencegahan dan berwaspada tidak begitu diberi perhatian.

Dalam Utusan Malaysia hari ini (29.6.09) Mohd Khuzairi sempat menemubual Dr Irfan yang baru pulang dari Hong Kong dan mencatatkan pengalaman beliau ketika di sana dalam rencananya 'Sikap Tak Peduli H1N1'.

Dr Irfan turut memberikan pendapatnya bagaimana kerajaan boleh membantu mengurankangkan impak penularan wabak ini. Antaranya ialah dengan menyediakan kemudahan membersih tangan menggunakan dispenser automatik yang diletakkan dikebanyakkan tempat awam. Berita lanjut klik...

Restriction by USM on traveling abroad

We know Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM) imposed a temporary prohibition on travel abroad to its staff and students in view of the Influenza A(H1N1) pandemic. The directive was issued last week (read here). But did USM issue a same directive to its staff and students?

It did, according to a KOSMO report on page 3, 25 June 2009 (pic on the right). According to the report bylined Zaki Salleh, Megat Ramli Megat Raof and Suhana Yusof - Acting Vice Chancellor, Prof Ahmad Shukri Mustapha Kamal when contacted by the paper confirmed the ban. Prof Ahmad Shukri said, "Jika ada keperluan mendesak untuk ke luar negara, kita akan kaji tetapi sebaik-baiknya ditangguhkan semua perjalanan khususnya (ke) negara yang mempunyai ancaman serius wabak H1N1."

Meanwhile, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) and Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) have not decided on anything yet on the ban. However, Universiti Malaya (UM) is supposed to come out with a decision last Thursday (25.6.09). A peak on UM's official website found nothing (of that sort of news).

Ceupacs wants designated rooms for puffers?

I thought somebody misunderstood and misreported Omar Osman's call on Public Service Department (PSD) to not impose a blanket ban on smoking in government premises but to provide smokers with designated smoking areas.

Now it seems quite clear. While the PSD wants de­­partment heads to strictly monitor the rule on smoking, Cuepacs feels the rights of smokers, both employees and customers, should be safeguarded. It was reported in the Star's 19 June 2009 report titled 'Huff and Puff Over Rule on Smoking' where Cuepacs president Omar Osman said the blanket rule was unfair and called on the Government to provide designated rooms for smokers.

Yesterday's NST (24 June 2009) upped the ante on the issue when they got Prof Dr Rahmat Awang from USM's National Poison Centre and Malaysian Trades Union Congress adviser on indoor air quality Dr T. Jayabalan to comment on it. Both expert gave their piece of advice to Cuepacs on the protection of rights of both smokers and non-smokers. They said it had been proven that ventilation systems could not filter the particles and gases in tobacco smoke to safe levels.

Dr Rahmat said tobacco smoke contained more than 4,000 chemicals, including more than 200 that were poisonous, and at least 69 that were carcinogenic. He disagreed to the notion that designated smoking areas was a responsible alternative to a smoking ban.

Both expert also disagreed on having designated smoking areas due to certain factors:- smoking sections without floor-to-ceiling partitions between the non-smoking section and smoking section do not prevent exposure to second-hand smoke;- designated rooms pose a threat to those who have to clean and work in them; and - smoke escapes through the open door when people enter or leave the smoking room.

Another point of contention brought out by the experts was the report produced by International Labour Organisation which showed that 200,000 workers were killed each year by exposure to second-hand smoke at work.

In wrapping the non-bylined report on page 13, a report by a purported survey carried out in Malaysia found that 61.3 per cent of adult smokers had wanted to quit but found it difficult. It said enforcing eight hours of non-smoking would be a step in the right direction to kick the habit (I have to check on this later).

"It must be remembered that there is no safe level of exposure to tobacco smoke and scientists have concluded that the only effective protection is 100 per cent smoke-free places"- the 11 para report concluded.

- I was just wondering what more excuses do these smokers (supporters included) want to articulate after this to merely justify their cravings? We have smoking rooms with chimneys at airport lounges... so what's wrong with smoking rooms with chimneys in offices...?

NOT CRAVED
Izaham

Was USM 'forced' to take in 150 students?

The NST's Saturday 20 June 2009 news report titled "USM 'forced' to take in 150 applicants" was a bit exaggerated if you consider the autonomy given to USM as an APEX university. Naturally, the Higher Education Ministry can't simply 'force' USM to do something under its autonomy that was earlier given. Yes, it can guide but not force. And of course NST can get away with it using the 'quote unquote' excuse.

For the uninitiated, the bracketing key ' ' or quote unquote used within words or phrases means the writer wished to show doubt that something is true or exactly as it is described. To some writers it is as an idiom or meant as a satire to show 'vagueness' of what the words or phrases really mean. It is also up to the readers as to how they want to interpret it.

Well, in this case NST is obviously trying to tell 'something' to its readers that the recent 'blunder' that has befallen USM is something not yet 'forgiven' at least by its gatekeepers. Of course, this is my personal opinion.

Nonetheless, the contents of the NST report did go into detail what the 'forced' meant - that "USM would have to absorb them "as there are still places available in the university because of rejection of offers by other applicants" said Higher Education director-general Datuk Dr Radin Umar Radin Sohadi. Now, at least that is quite a fair explanation.

However, in this example of direct news reporting, I would have to say hats off to Utusan Malaysia for its contents and header of the same news (well, not entirely the same). Its 20 June 2009 news report titled "4,424 calon tersalah tawaran USM ke IPTA" has a quote by the Higher Education director-general Datuk Dr Radin Umar Radin Sohadi: "Katanya baki 150 calon yang terlibat dalam kes berkenaan dan tidak mendapat tawaran ke mana-mana IPTA akan dipertimbangkan semula oleh USM."

Now, what's the difference between being 'forced' or 'would have to absorb' or 'akan dipertimbangkan semula'? Naturally, 'forced' is a very strong word, 'would have to absorb' is a bit milder. And Utusan's 'akan dipertimbangkan semula' means as it is-lah, what do you expect? At least now that we know NST (representing their readers) is still angry with us.

'Not Forced'
Izaham

Malaysia has huge untapped mineral resources?

Did you know that Malaysia has a huge amount of untapped mineral resources within its borders and that these 'gold mines' are just ripe enough waiting to be harvested?

It is estimated that the minerals are worth some RM235 billion. Make no mistake, its BILLIONS and not millions. Compare that with Malaysia's oil and gas (Petronas) revenue at RM230 billion (source-wikipedia). Another Malaysian corporation in the making?

According to Prof Dr Eric Goh from USM's School of Materials and Mineral Resources Engineering (USM-SMMRE) there are about 30 types of minerals that have been identified for possible mining in the peninsular, Sabah and Sarawak. Of these, metallic minerals like iron ore, raw gold, bauxite, maganese, kaolin and mica make up the bulk with about 73%. The others are non-metallic minerals (6%), mineral fuels (16%) and mineral by-products (5%).

The scary part is that if the mining work is not done in a sustainable manner it would lend adverse effect to the environment. These include soil erosion due to dredging at mineral development sites and the danger of denuded land reducing its potential for post-industrial usage and other agricultural losses due to removal of productive topsoil.

However Goh said that with proper regulatory frameworks, after the excavation work, any soil which has had its minerals removed can be reused or refilled back into the earth. This means the land can be converted back to its original purpose like agriculture or converted for other purposes like housing, recreation or even a golf course.

For this to work, however, there must be adequate incentives to ensure that any site that is mined can be properly rehabilitated. There needs to be a clear guideline and regulatory policy towards effective mineral wealth management. But more than that, it must be enforced.

News is that the Minerals and Geoscience Department is updating its geostatic data and coming up with detailed geological maps, while millions are already spent for new state-of-the-art technology to be brought in for mining.

Hmmm.. I don't think mother earth is really welcoming us with all those dreadful dredging machines...

Izaham

Laman web UUM diuji

Laman web Universiti Utara Malaysia (UUM) hari ini diuji kekebalannya oleh penggodam (hacker) yang dipercayai dari Indonesia. Ini dapat dilihat dari kenyataannya yang berbaur politik (lihat sini). Pernah diwar-warkan bahawa universiti tersebut lebih canggih dan inovatif dalam perkhidmatan ITnya. Mungkin itu cabaran yang ia harus hadapi. Harapan kita laman web USM lebih kebal dari UUM.

Jam 1.35pm laman web UUM sudah kembali segar (lihat sini)