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Sabah
The Land Below the Wind
Together with Sarawak, Sabah constitutes that part of the
island of Borneo that is Malaysian, collectively known as
Eastern Malaysia.
Sabah was known in ancient times as 'The Land
Below the Wind', because it lies below the typhoon belt. Today,
it's rugged landscape is made up of extensive rainforests
and towering mountain peaks, the highest of which, Mount Kinabalu,
reaches a staggering 4,101 metres.
Although the national language is Bahasa Malaysia,
Sabah's people comprise 31 different indigenous groups, including
the Kadazans, Muruts, Kedayans and Sulu.
Sabah is much more than a 'land below the wind';
it is the birthplace of the University of Malaysia Sabah (UMS),
a melting pot of ethnic diversity, a cradle of many cultures
and a symbol of social harmony. There are several features
that mark the State on the international map, including the
Mount Kinabalu, the Crocker Range, the marine heritage, the
Sepilok 'orang utan' sanctuary, and the pristine rainforests
of Danum Valley. Nature has bestowed Sabah with a unique amalgam
of landscape and seascape, and an enviable repository of floral
and faunal diversity. The State Capital, Kota Kinabalu, where
UMS is situated, offers the best of town life with the peace
of Sabah's countryside. It is not a place that rests on its
history, however - rather, it accommodates its modernity with
ease. The growth of new buildings and institutions reflects
how many people see Kata Kinabalu as a town of the future
as much as the present.
The date 31st January 1994 was an historic moment
that brought enlightened hope to the thousands of local community
members who had gathered in the small town of Beaufort, Sabah.
Our esteemed Prime Minister Dato' Seri Dr Mahathir Mohamad
in meeting with the people made a promise that a university
will be built in Sabah. The announcement was spontaneously
followed by loud cheers, and became the driving force for
the establishment of a university in Sabah.
Thus on the 24th November 1994, a university
was born, not through a daydream or a nightmare, but through
a forward vision of our distinguished Prime Minister, which
aspires to bring immense development and quality of life to
the people here.
UMS has a vision to be an innovative university,
and to carry forward traditions of excellence in seeking and
imparting knowledge, and in human resources development which
is ready to meet the greater challenges of the twenty-first
century.
Since its birth, the development of UMS is progressing
at a tremendous pace, and the university is fully committed
to achieving the highest standards of quality in both academic
and non-academic activities. This means pursuing continuous
improvement and being satisfied with nothing less than the
best practice.
With self-confidence, it is hoped that UMS will
be able to train and produce human resources of international
calibre, who are ready to contribute towards the betterment
of the people and the country.
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