Events Calendar
Kota Samarahan, 26th March 2022: Faculty of Built Environment (FBE), Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS) in collaboration with Faculty of Civil Engineering and Built Environment, Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia (UTHM) organized a 2-days event in relation to Universal Design from 25th March 2022 to 26th March 2022.
Universal Design is the design and composition of an environment so that it can be accessed, understood and used to the greatest extent possible by all people regardless of their age, size, ability or disability. The event involved 50 students and 8 lecturers from FBE UNIMAS and 31 students and 4 lecturers from UTHM.
On 25th March, the Universal Design assessment activities was around Kuching, where 8 group of students from UNIMAS and UTHM are tasked to simulate the experience of people with disabilities or impairments using wheelchairs, crutches, and blindfolds in 8 different sites in Kuching such as the areas of India Street, Old Courthouse, Carpenter Street, Waterfront and Main Bazaar. The output from the activities is that students are to do a quick sketch of a proposal on site of any improvements incorporating Universal Design.
On 26th March, the activities continues with the Design and Architecture Forum (DECORUM) 2022 titled “The Role of Architecture in Empowering Universal Design” to be held at Dewan Mutiara, DeTAR Putra UNIMAS from 9am to 12 noon.
There are 3 panelists for the forum. The first panelist, Prof. Ar. Nurakmal Abdullah Goh, Dean of Faculty of Built Environment, UNIMAS and an active researcher in various fields, especially on Green Construction and Technology.
Her most recent research is focusing on Sarawak Indigenous Architecture and the Conservation and Preservation of Borneo Built and Biodiversity Environment of both Sabah and Sarawak. She is also a strong advocate of Sustainable Architecture and is a Green Building Index (GBI) Facilitator.
The second panelist, Yang Berhormat Senator Datuk Ras Adiba Radzi, is a Senator member of Dewan Negara and a well-known broadcast personality, poet, para-athlete and community activist in Malaysia. She was appointed by the Prime Minister as a Senator on 20th May 2020, to represent persons with disabilities (PWDS) in the Dewan Negara.
She created history when she was appointed as the Chairman of BERNAMA, becoming the first woman to hold the highest office in the Malaysian national news agency. She was also presented with the Aungerah Tokoh Srikandi Negara in 2014 and the Anugerah Wanita Waja - Ikon Seri Waja in 2021. She also received the highest honour – Pingat Ketua Pengarah from the Fire and Rescue Department Malaysia and the Lifetime Award for Humanity in conjunction with MYMALAYSIA Awards 2021.
The third panelist, Mr. Francis Johen anak Adam, Member of the National Council for the Disabled and a renowned Legal Consultant. Diagnosed with Transverse Myelitis which is caused by a spinal chord virus infection, he proved disability is not a barrier for him to succeed in life. During his tenure as a Legal Consultant, he was awarded various awards including The Exemplary Officer Award by the Chief Minister of Sarawak in 2009 and also The OKU Employee Award in 2007.
He also held the position of the first OKU Commissioner of the Human Rights Commission (SUHAKAM) and various accomplishments that inspire others even with their physical limitations. His story can also be read in the book “Nothing is Impossible: The Success Story of the Disabled’’, published by The Repository and Documentation Cluster (KRD) Malaysian Social Institute (ISM).
The moderator of the forum is Mr. Zayn Al-Abideen Gregory, Senior Lecturer of Faculty of Built Environment, Unimas. The forum attended by 200 from the public and university students around Kuching and the purpose of the forum is to highlight the importance of Universal Design in the built environment and thus to emphasize equality of accessibility to the disabled. It is with much hope that this forum will be able to create an awareness on Universal Design.
