UMP's Vice-Chancellor receives MASUM 2022 Sports Icon Award

PUTRAJAYA, 20 July 2023 - The Vice-Chancellor of Universiti Malaysia Pahang (UMP), Professor Dato’ Ts. Dr. Yuserrrie Zainuddin, was honoured with the MASUM 2022 Sports Icon Award at the Malaysian Universities Sports Council (MASUM) Sports Awards and the Handing Over of the National Flag to the Malaysian Contingent for the World University Games (UNIVERSIADE) 2023.

The award was presented by the Minister of Higher Education, YB Dato’ Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin, at the ceremony held at Dewan Zaaba, KPT last night.

In his speech, YB Dato’ Seri Mohamed Khaled highlighted that the role of higher education institutions (IPT) in the development and excellence of sports in the country should not be limited to merely identifying, training, and sending athletes to competitions.

"IPTs can leverage their various expertise and knowledge to conduct research, establish collaborations, and transfer technology in all aspects and fields that can enhance the nation's sports sector to be renowned worldwide.

"For instance, universities can create high-tech sports clothing or equipment, develop menus or nutritional regimes with the best nutrients, devise game strategies, and perform performance analysis using big data and analytics," he stated.

Meanwhile, the leadership excellence of Prof. Dato’ Ts. Dr. Yuserrrie, who was appointed as the Deputy Chairman of MASUM II in 2018, has made significant contributions to sports excellence in universities and the country. He once led the Malaysian contingent to the ASEAN University Games (AUG) 2018 in Naypyidaw, Myanmar, bringing home 37 gold medals, surpassing the target of 35 gold, 43 silver, and 48 bronze medals.

He also led MASUM to the Malaysian Higher Education Institutions Games (SIPMA) in 2019 at Universiti Tenaga Nasional (UNITEN), Bangi, where the team won 22 gold medals, 28 silver medals, and 31 bronze medals, securing the third position out of 8 Sports Councils.

Additionally, he was appointed as the Deputy Chairman of MASUM II from 2020 to 2021 and faced challenging times when the country was hit by the COVID-19 pandemic.

During that period, the MASUM Sports Carnival was physically held in 2020 and 2021 but was suspended due to the pandemic.

However, in January to March 2022, Prof. Dato’ Ts. Dr. Yuserrrie, who was the Chairman of MASUM at that time, made a bold decision to organize the Malaysian Universities Sports Council (MASUM) Sports Carnival 2022 physically while adhering to the prescribed SOPs.

The event, held at UMP from March 24 to 27, 2022, was successfully executed and witnessed the Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM) contingent emerge as champions of the MASUM Sports Carnival 2022 for the third consecutive time.

At the same event, the Flag Handover Ceremony for the Malaysian Contingent to the World University Games in Chengdu, China, which will take place from July 26 to August 8, was also held.

By: Mimi Rabita Haji Abdul Wahit, Centre for Corporate Communications, Chancellery Department

Translation by: Aminatul Nor Mohamed Said, UMP Career Centre (UMPCC)