UMS students take on healthy lifestyle challenge with Move, Munch, Balance campaign
KOTA KINABALU: Students at Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) are stepping up their health game with a new challenge encouraging at least 150 minutes of exercise a week and five servings of fruits and vegetables a day.
The six-month programme dubbed FSSK x ANMS #Move Munch Balance, is aimed at shifting health behaviours and improving productivity at the university.
UMS vice-chancellor Professor Datuk Dr Kasim Mansor, who launched the campaign, said a study in March showed that while many students understand the importance of eating a balanced meal and staying active, they are not putting that knowledge into practice.
"A healthy lifestyle is important in reducing absenteeism among staff and students, and in keeping productivity levels up," he said, while commending the Sabah Health Department's health promotion branch for partnering on the campaign.
Kasim added that the initiative could pave the way for a broader rollout across the campus, including branches in Labuan and Sandakan.
'The Higher Education Ministry encourages walking 10,000 steps a day. Here, we have a weekly walk and talk session every Wednesday evening where lecturers, staff and students can discuss matters while getting their steps in,' he said.
Kasim also pointed out that UMS has plenty of walking trails—one just opened recently—and shared that he personally climbs six floors to his office to stay fit.
To help curb escalating medical costs at UMS, he encouraged staff and students to practice a healthy lifestyle — aiming for at least one hour of physical activity a day.
The campaign, which champions the Health Ministry's Agenda Nasional Malaysia Sihat, is a collaboration between UMS-Unicef's Communication for Development (C4D) Research Unit and the health promotion branch of the Sabah Health Department.
UMS-Unicef C4D Research Unit head Dr Latif Lai explained that "Move" means getting at least 150 minutes of moderate exercise per week.
"Munch" stands for eating five servings of fruits and vegetables daily and making it a lifelong habit, and "Balance" refers to the Malaysian Healthy Plate model—half the plate should be fruits and vegetables, with the other half split between protein and carbohydrates
Around 200 students joined the launch on Wednesday (April 30), which also saw the vice-chancellor joining them in an exercise routine, before flagging off a 10,000-step walk.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Rakyat Post
3 hours ago
- Rakyat Post
Entrepreneur 'Kieda Crepe' Shares Her Oral Herpes Diagnosis – Doctor On Twitter Weighs In
Subscribe to our FREE Oral herpes recently became a trending topic on Malaysian social media after local entrepreneur Khalieda Yusra, better known as Kieda Crepe, revealed in a video that she had contracted the virus. In the Photo: Facebook / Khalieda Yusra 'I knew it! His private part is smelly. This happened because of his mouth, right? Because we kissed?' she quipped. The doctor went on to explain the nature of the herpes virus, offered prevention tips, and prescribed her an antiviral cream. While Kieda may have intended to raise awareness, many netizens felt the jokes were in poor taste, as her core business was selling food. Everything You Need to Know About Oral Herpes As the topic continued trending, a doctor on Twitter, Dr Samhan, stepped in to provide further clarity. In his post, he urged the public not to immediately blame their partners, noting that oral herpes, also known as herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) can be transmitted through various non-sexual means. According to Dr Samhan, HSV-1 is highly contagious and many people may carry it without even knowing. In some cases, it's contracted in childhood through non-sexual contact, such as kissing family members or sharing utensils, towels, or cups. 'Doktor… saya kena herpes sebab telor suami masam?' 😳 Bunyi pelik, tapi jangan cepat salahkan pasangan. Jangkitan ni boleh datang dari banyak punca. — Dr Samhan (@DoktorSamhan) He described the virus as being 'dormant' or inactive, only becoming active when a person's immune system is weakened such as during times of stress, fever, or menstruation. How Does Oral Herpes Spread? Through kissing, even without visible sores Through oral sex with an infected individual By sharing personal items such as lip balm, spoons, or straws By touching an infected area and then touching your mouth Signs You Might Have It Dr Samhan explained that oral herpes symptoms may include: Small blisters or growths around the lips Itching or a burning sensation at the affected area Mild fever General fatigue or weakness 'Oral herpes spreads easily sometimes without you even realizing it. Practice good hygiene, avoid sharing personal items, and always pay attention to any changes in your body.' He ended his post with a reminder that it is better to be safe than sorry. Tak masam — MYDIN (@MydinMalaysia) Share your thoughts with us via TRP's . Get more stories like this to your inbox by signing up for our newsletter.
Daily Express
9 hours ago
- Daily Express
Mental health is a shared societal responsibility: Arifin
Published on: Monday, June 23, 2025 Published on: Mon, Jun 23, 2025 By: Jonathan Nicholas Text Size: KOTA KINABALU: Mental well-being must be seen as a collective responsibility, forming the backbone of a healthy and balanced society, said Sabah Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Datuk Mohd Arifin Mohd Arif ( pic ) on Monday. Speaking at the Regional Webinar on Psychological and Spiritual Well-being 2025 hosted by Ipdas, Arifin stressed the link between community wellness and a stable psychological foundation. He cited 2022 Health Ministry data showing alarming rates of depression (26.9 per cent), loneliness (16.2 per cent), and suicidal thoughts (13.1 per cent) among Malaysian teenagers, calling it a national concern requiring urgent integrated action. Arifin argued that psychology and spirituality must be addressed together, warning that neglecting one undermines the other and weakens community resilience. He said mental health is a core element of the Sabah Maju Jaya plan, aligning with national Madani efforts to embed emotional and spiritual well-being into development policies. * Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel and Telegram for breaking news alerts and key updates! * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia
The Sun
14 hours ago
- The Sun
Plan needed to raise retirement age
PETALING JAYA: Malaysia could miss out on the untapped economic potential of its ageing population if it fails to act now by investing in skills training and creating age-friendly workplaces for those aged 45 and above. The warning comes from Universiti Putra Malaysia's Malaysian Research Institute on Ageing (MyAgeing) director, Assoc Prof Dr Rahimah Ibrahim, following a recent call by former Swedish prime minister Fredrik Reinfeldt for countries like Malaysia to consider raising the retirement age to 75 to ease pension pressures. Closer to home, last month Law and Institutional Reform Minister Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said suggested the government consider extending Malaysia's retirement age to 65, noting that many Malaysians remain active, capable and energetic well into their 60s. Malaysia last raised the retirement age in 2014 — to 60, from 58 in the public sector and 55 in the private sector. However, Rahimah warned that Malaysia is not yet prepared to support adults working into their 70s. She stressed that any changes to the retirement framework must be gradual and flexible, not abrupt. 'Working longer must be a choice backed by robust systems, not a necessity born out of financial desperation. 'Rather than fixating on a single retirement age, we should link pensionable age to gains in healthy life expectancy, and ensure early-exit options remain available, especially for physically demanding jobs.' She said senior workers need adaptable, meaningful roles and the right support to stay healthy and productive. While Sweden has successfully kept senior adults in the workforce, Rahimah said that achievement came after decades of investment in near-universal pension coverage, retraining programmes, and inclusive labour policies – elements that Malaysia currently lacks. 'In Sweden, over 80% of those aged 55 to 64 are still working. In Malaysia, it's just under 50%. 'More than half of senior Malaysian workers are in informal employment, with no social protection, limited upskilling and little ergonomic support.' She added that health is another limiting factor. 'According to the World Health Organisation, Malaysians aged 60 have an average of 18.5 healthy years remaining, compared with the 21 years in Sweden. 'We can't expect people to work longer if their bodies are already exhausted. Health must be part of the retirement equation.' Rahimah also flagged concerns about financial preparedness. 'Only 36% of active Employees Provident Fund (EPF) contributors reach the basic savings threshold of RM240,000 by age 55. 'The updated benchmark, based on the Belanjawanku model, is RM650,000 – roughly RM2,690 a month for 20 years. But most low-income workers fall short. 'A B40 household earning RM3,401 a month may retire with just RM180,000 – enough for only RM750 a month,' she said. Rahimah argued that EPF savings alone are not enough, and called for a three-pillar model: personal savings, a universal pension floor and long-term care insurance. Her colleague, senior research officer Chai Sen Tyng agreed and called for a unified retirement policy that ensures portability of savings across job sectors. 'Our system wasn't built for longer lifespans. 'We need a national health financing model that supports people across the life course, from early screening to rehabilitation and community care. 'Our healthcare remains too hospital-centric, too expensive and often out of reach for older Malaysians.' Chai added that healthy ageing should be viewed as an intergenerational investment, not just a senior citizen issue. 'We continue to work in silos. What we need is integrated thinking and coordinated reform.' Former MyAgeing director and gerontology expert Datuk Dr Tengku Aizan Tengku Abdul Hamid echoed this, urging a fundamental rethink of how Malaysia perceives ageing. 'Let's stop asking what older people cost and start asking what value we can unlock from healthy longevity. 'Malaysia has the capacity to lead in this space. What we lack is political will and imagination.' Rather than raising the retirement age, she said Malaysia should prioritise reemployment opportunities and flexible work arrangements. 'Our institutions haven't kept up with how people live and work today. It's time we stop viewing senior adults as dependents and start seeing them as contributors,' she said.
