JOHOR BAHRU June 22, 2016 - Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) has taken immediate action on the issue related to the controversial teaching slides relating to the Hindu and Sikh religions in the TITAS course by setting up an internal investigation committee. The committee is chaired by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic and International) Professor Dr. Rose Alinda Alias, and comprises a number of academic leaders, including three members of different religion and race other than Malay Muslims. Their involvement is needed to look at the issue from a different perspective in a fair and transparent manner that does not favour any group or race. Investigations carried out by the committee have facilitated in identifying the lecturer involved in the issue. The lecturer in question, a contract lecturer, was asked to give an explanation about the content of the teaching materials used in the TITAS course including slides, books and references to support the validity of the teaching content. After being briefed both orally and in writing in terms of content and reference material used by the lecturer concerned, UTM has established an independent committee outside of UTM which comprises three TITAS specialists, Professor Zaid Ahmad and Professor Madya Dr Sarjit Singh a/l Darshah Singh of Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM), and Professor Dr Rajantheran a/l Muniandy from Universiti Malaya (UM) to assess the information submitted. All information and materials provided by the lecturer concerned has been submitted to the external independent committee for review. The committee will then assess the validity of the material, and will subsequently determine the most suitable way the verified content can be delivered. The external independent committee was also asked to make its assessment and provide a report. UTM will determine the appropriate action to be taken after receiving the report.

JOHOR BAHRU, June 21, 2016 - Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) achieved remarkable success when it was listed in the top 100 universities in Asia through the Times Higher Education (THE) Asian University Rankings 2016 released today. UTM is listed in the top 70 in Asia, followed by Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) in the 121-130 grouping, Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) 141-150 and Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) 161-170. Vice Chancellor Professor Datuk Dr Wahid Omar said these encouraging results put UTM as the third best university in ASEAN after the National University of Singapore (NUS) and Nanyang Technological University (NTU) in Singapore. “The success in becoming the third best university in ASEAN can help achieve the government's aim to make Malaysia a hub of higher education in Southeast Asia. "UTM soared over 30 positions and placed for the first time in the top 100 universities in Asia following the attainment of academic quality and good research," he said. Meanwhile, the report published by THE places UTM as the institution of higher learning that is top among ASEAN countries after Singapore while Thailand has the most entries in the ranking this time with seven universities. Thai universities that recorded the highest positions in the THE Asian University Rankings are the Mahidol University and King Mongkut University of Technology Thonburi (KMUTT) respectively in the 90th and 98th positions in Asia. This year, the THE ranking lists the top 200 universities, compared to only 100 in the previous year. --- For further information please contact; Professor Dr Nordin bin Yahaya Senior Director UTM International Universiti Teknologi Malaysia

[ The UTMBIOSS team member showing the Orang Asli community on the right way of washing hand[/caption] [ UTMBIOSS member showing Orang Asli kids to drink healthy clean water[/caption] JOHOR BAHRU, 6 May 2016 – The Bio Process Student Society of University Teknologi Malaysia (BIOSSUTM) has implemented a Community Service programme at the Perling Orang Asli settlement. The area is inhabited by 82 families of Orang Asli Laut communities. The majority of them work as fishermen and in nearby restaurants in various positions. Programme Director Nur Ashikin Othman said that the main objective of organizing this programme was to raise awareness among the Orang Asli community about environmental and self-hygiene management. “In line with our main objective, such activities were carried out such as toothbrushing and hand washing demonstrations. “There were also a number of activities such as peeling bark contests, tug of war and coconut peeling by hand. In addition, there were gotong- royong activities carried out at the end of the program after the donation handover to the village chief,” she said. Among the items donated were rice, sugar, salt, condensed milk, drinks and used clothing. This contribution was donated by the citizens of UTM a few weeks before the programme. The program ended successfully when these students in some way helped ease the burden of those in need and also helped to raise awareness about hygiene and the environment. [ Showing the most effective way in brushing teeth to Orang Asli community at Perling Orang Ali settlement.[/caption]