Latest news with #UMT
Barnama
3 days ago
- Business
- Barnama
UMT Makes A Leap In QS World University Rankings 2026
He said the achievement not only reflected the dedication and hard work of all UMT staff in driving academic excellence and high-impact research but also further strengthened the university's position as a global leader in marine and environmental sustainability at the global level. 'Previously, UMT remained in the 1001–1200 category for five consecutive years. The QS World University Rankings is the world's most prestigious university ranking system, evaluating thousands of institutions globally based on six key indicators. 'This leap to the 801-850 category marks a significant improvement and demonstrates that the university's strategic direction, guided by the UMT Strategic Plan 2023-2027 (PSUMT5), is beginning to bear fruit," he said in a statement today. Mohd Zamri said UMT also showed a remarkable performance in the Times Higher Education (THE) Impact Rankings 2025, especially in the aspect of environmental sustainability, achieving a high score of 75.4 in SDG 14: Life Below Water and 82.0 in SDG 15: Life on Land. According to him, this success reflects UMT's commitment to expanding international collaboration networks, strengthening research in strategic areas, and playing a vital role in shaping a sustainable future. "Although UMT is a medium-scale university, with a clear focus and collective spirit, we can compete on the world stage. "Thank you to all industry partners, alumni and the community for your continued support in the effort to transform UMT," he said. -- BERNAMA
The Star
08-06-2025
- Science
- The Star
Bleached reefs signal ecological, economic alarm
Sea rainforests: Coral reefs play a vital role in coastal protection, acting as natural breakwaters in reducing the impact of strong waves and preventing coastal erosion. — AFP PETALING JAYA: Coral reefs, often known as rainforests of the sea, are more than just a haven for marine biodiversity. They play a vital role in coastal protection, acting as natural breakwaters in reducing the impact of strong waves and preventing coastal erosion. 'For many coastal communities and islands in Malaysia, reefs are also the backbone of marine ecotourism, supporting livelihoods through diving, snorkelling and nature-based tourism,' said Assoc Prof Dr Tan Chun Hong of Universiti Malaysia Terengganu (UMT). The research fellow at UMT's Institute of Oceanography and Environment said reefs support a vast array of marine life, providing essential nursery grounds, feeding areas and shelter for countless species. He said bleached reefs result in more than just losing their vibrant colours. 'Prolonged bleaching can lead to mass coral mortality, weakening the entire marine food web. 'Fish populations decline, especially species that depend directly on healthy coral for food and habitat. 'The loss of coral reefs also reduces Malaysia's resilience to storms and rising sea levels, putting coastal communities at greater risk,' he said. Tan said the recovery of bleached coral reefs depends on their resilience. 'Under ideal conditions, some resilient coral species can start showing signs of recovery within a few months. 'However, full ecosystem recovery can take up to 10 to 15 years, and in some cases, even longer,' he said. He said the mass bleaching across Malaysian waters last year was not just a scientific concern but also an ecological, economic and social crisis. 'The best remedy is prevention by reducing global warming and local stressors before the next mass bleaching event strikes,' he added. He said Malaysia must ramp up its transition to renewable energy, enforce carbon reduction commitments, and integrate marine ecosystems into climate resilience strategies. Tan also proposed stronger enforcement in marine protected areas (MPAs), including integrating coral reef protection into national climate policies, prioritising early warning systems for bleaching, promoting sustainable fishing, and reducing marine litter. 'If we protect coral reefs, we are also protecting fisheries, coastal communities, and future generations from the escalating impacts of a warming planet. 'The fight against coral bleaching is also a fight against climate change,' he said. Aquatic biologist Dr Ahmad Syafiq Ahmad Nasir said mass coral bleaching was mostly due to climate change and ocean warming that is heavily driven by global warming, while intensified marine heatwaves are linked to El Nino and greenhouse gas emissions. 'This produces prolonged elevated sea temperatures that disrupt the symbiotic relationship between corals and their algae, triggering widespread bleaching,' he said. Ahmad, a senior lecturer at the Aquatic Resource Science and Management Programme at Universiti Malaysia Sarawak, said bleaching was also accelerated by increased human activity after the lifting of Covid-19 lockdowns. He said the rise in unregulated and unsustainable tourism had overwhelmed reefs in areas like Redang island in Terengganu and Tunku Abdul Rahman Park in Sabah, with divers possibly causing damage by trampling on them and anchor scarring. 'Pollution has also promoted harmful algal blooms and reduced water quality. 'Illegal dynamite fishing and overfishing further degrade coral structures and disrupt ecological balance, making reefs more vulnerable,' he added. Ahmad said the loss of coral reefs impacts interconnected systems like mangroves and seagrass, which depend on healthy reef dynamics to grow. He also called for improved enforcement in MPAs nationwide to ensure protected areas are well managed while also shifting away from mass tourism to lower-impact ecotourism.
Daily Express
05-06-2025
- General
- Daily Express
Eight from Universiti Malaysia Terengganu claim trial to injuring fellow student
Published on: Thursday, June 05, 2025 Published on: Thu, Jun 05, 2025 By: FMT Reporters Text Size: In December, police arrested 12 Universiti Malaysia Terengganu students in connection with an assault on a fellow student. (Bernama pic) PETALING JAYA: Eight students from Universiti Malaysia Terengganu (UMT) pleaded not guilty at the Kuala Terengganu magistrates' court today to severely injuring a fellow student last year. Berita Harian reported that the students, aged 21 to 23, made their pleas after the charges against them were read before magistrate Iffah Nabihah Ishak. They were charged with voluntarily causing grievous hurt to the 21-year-old victim in a dormitory on the UMT campus between 1.30am and 5am on Dec 15, 2024. The charges were made under Section 325 of the Penal Code, read together with Section 34 of the same code, which provide for up to seven years' imprisonment and a fine upon conviction. The court set July 6 for re-mention of the case and allowed bail of RM5,000 for all eight accused. The prosecution was led by deputy public prosecutors Azizan Abdullah, Nur Nabihah Hanin Ayim, and Nur Aisyah Mohamad, while the accused were represented by a lawyer from the National Legal Aid Foundation. In December, police arrested 12 UMT students in connection with an assault on a fellow student. Acting Kuala Terengganu police chief Wan Zaki Wan Ismail said the arrests followed a report from a man claiming that his 20-year-old son had been assaulted in the university's dormitory. 'The victim informed his father of the assault by phone at 10.50pm on Dec 15 while the complainant was at home in Melaka. 'The victim also sent several photos showing injuries to various parts of his body,' he said. The victim's father took his son to Sultanah Nur Zahirah Hospital for treatment, where the attending medical officer confirmed bruises and internal injuries from blunt force trauma to the victim's arms, waist, chest, abdomen, and leg. * 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
Free Malaysia Today
05-06-2025
- Free Malaysia Today
8 from UMT claim trial to injuring fellow student
In December, police arrested 12 Universiti Malaysia Terengganu students in connection with an assault on a fellow student. (Bernama pic) PETALING JAYA : Eight students from Universiti Malaysia Terengganu (UMT) pleaded not guilty at the Kuala Terengganu magistrates' court today to severely injuring a fellow student last year. Berita Harian reported that the students, aged 21 to 23, made their pleas after the charges against them were read before magistrate Iffah Nabihah Ishak. They were charged with voluntarily causing grievous hurt to the 21-year-old victim in a dormitory on the UMT campus between 1.30am and 5am on Dec 15, 2024. The charges were made under Section 325 of the Penal Code, read together with Section 34 of the same code, which provide for up to seven years' imprisonment and a fine upon conviction. The court set July 6 for re-mention of the case and allowed bail of RM5,000 for all eight accused. The prosecution was led by deputy public prosecutors Azizan Abdullah, Nur Nabihah Hanin Ayim, and Nur Aisyah Mohamad, while the accused were represented by a lawyer from the National Legal Aid Foundation. In December, police arrested 12 UMT students in connection with an assault on a fellow student. Acting Kuala Terengganu police chief Wan Zaki Wan Ismail said the arrests followed a report from a man claiming that his 20-year-old son had been assaulted in the university's dormitory. 'The victim informed his father of the assault by phone at 10.50pm on Dec 15 while the complainant was at home in Melaka. 'The victim also sent several photos showing injuries to various parts of his body,' he said. The victim's father took his son to Sultanah Nur Zahirah Hospital for treatment, where the attending medical officer confirmed bruises and internal injuries from blunt force trauma to the victim's arms, waist, chest, abdomen, and leg.
![[UPDATED] Eight UMT students charged with assaulting fellow student causing serious injury](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.nst.com.my%2Fimages%2Farticles%2Fmumtkids_1749095070.jpg&w=3840&q=100)
![[UPDATED] Eight UMT students charged with assaulting fellow student causing serious injury](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.nst.com.my%2Fassets%2FNST-Logo%402x.png%3Fid%3Db37a17055cb1ffea01f5&w=48&q=75){kind=small}
New Straits Times
05-06-2025
- New Straits Times
[UPDATED] Eight UMT students charged with assaulting fellow student causing serious injury
KUALA TERENGGANU: Eight Universiti Malaysia Terengganu (UMT) students pleaded not guilty at the magistrate's court here today to a charge of causing grievous injuries to a fellow student last year. The accused, all male and aged between 21 and 23, made the plea after the charge was read by the court interpreter before Magistrate Iffah Nabihah Mohd Ishak. According to the charge, all eight students were alleged to have intentionally caused grievous hurt to the 21-year-old victim. They were charged with committing the offence at a college in UMT's Kuala Nerus branch between 1.30am and 5am on December 15 last year. The charge was framed under Section 325 of the Penal Code for voluntarily causing grievous hurt, which carries a maximum sentence of seven years' imprisonment and a fine upon conviction. The court set July 6 for mention and granted bail of RM5,000 to all the accused. Deputy public prosecutors Azizan Abdullah, Nur Nabihah Hanin Ayim, and Nur Aisyah Mohamad prosecuted the case. All the accused were represented by lawyers from the National Legal Aid Foundation. It was previously reported that police arrested 12 students from a public higher education institute in the state who were believed to be involved in a group assault at a residential college.
