logo
Together for Tanjung Aru

Together for Tanjung Aru

The Star3 days ago
Alumni in action: Dr Chan (second row, fifth from right) and Chuah (far left) with other participants at the beach clean-up.
COLLECTIVE effort often has the power to drive causes further.
This was evident in a recent beach clean-up organised by alumni members of IMU University.
Dubbed the #Offline16 campaign, the initiative – designed to encourage participants to disconnect from digital devices and reconnect with nature and their community – resulted in the collection of more than 130kg of rubbish along 2km of Tanjung Aru Beach in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, in just two hours.
Held on the morning of June 28, the clean-up – conducted in collaboration with iCare Pharmacy, VitaHealth and the Meraki Daat Initiative – saw over 30 alumni members, partners and volunteers collecting 133.55kg of waste, contributing to the preservation of Kota Kinabalu's iconic coastline.
Common non-biodegradable items found included plastic bags and bottles, cigarette butts, and hard plastic materials.
The clean-up was a key highlight of the IMU Alumni Great Getaway 2025, an event from June 27 to 28 that brought together the varsity's alumni from across Malaysia for a weekend of reconnection, cultural exchange and purposeful engagement.
IMU Alumni Association (2025/26) president Dr Paul Chan said the alumni are proud to give back.
'Beyond the scenic backdrop and joyful gatherings, this weekend was a powerful reminder of the impact we can make when we come together with intention.
'Through partnerships like this, we are building a culture of service and sustainability,' he said in a press release.
Alumnus Chuah Chong Ee, who is also iCare Group of Pharmacies founder and managing director, added that the event created meaningful interactions among the alumni and brought them closer to the environment.
The IMU Alumni Great Getaway 2025 marked a growing commitment by the alumni to lead in corporate social responsibility and community impact, the press release noted.
The collaboration with partners stands as a model for how alumni networks can mobilise to drive meaningful change in the communities they care about, it added.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

#HEALTH: ADHD — disorder or disruptive behaviour?
#HEALTH: ADHD — disorder or disruptive behaviour?

New Straits Times

time2 days ago

  • New Straits Times

#HEALTH: ADHD — disorder or disruptive behaviour?

JOE is 8 and constantly fidgets or jumps up during class or when he's watching a movie, eating or even reading. He tries to wait his turn but can't stop himself from blurting out answers during lessons and interrupting his friends. He's been told over and over again that he's naughty and not trying hard enough to be better, but he does. He struggles every day to be like his friends but fails. Joe is a typical case of a child with attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and while symptoms and specific challenges may vary from person to person, the helplessness and the feeling of being misunderstood are a shared struggle for those diagnosed with the condition. In 2020, the Health Ministry estimated that 1.6 per cent to 4.6 per cent of the population had ADHD. However, like many other disorders, it tends to be under-reported, says IMU University clinical psychologist and senior lecturer Dr Serena In. Statistics show that it is more prevalent in boys, who are three to four times more likely to have ADHD compared with girls. However, these figures may not be entirely accurate as girls tend to adapt their behaviours in socially desirable ways, thus leading to fewer diagnoses. WHAT IS ADHD? ADHD is a neuro-developmental disorder that starts in early childhood. It affects how our brain develops and processes things. "It is not a behavioural problem. What happens in the brain affects the way a child functions," says In. There are three types of ADHD — the predominantly hyperactive-impulsive type, the predominantly inattentive type, or a combination of both. The hyperactive-impulsive types have difficulty staying on a task, are always on the go and fidgety. They can't sit still through a lesson, or even a movie. They may also display a lack of self-control. For example, a typical child would be able to learn behaviours such as lining up and taking turns, but a hyperactive-impulsive type will find it very difficult to do so. On the other hand, the inattentive types tend to forget things or lose things, are easily distracted and find it difficult to concentrate. They don't appear to be listening well and lose interest, appear bored or seem like they are daydreaming. "Whichever type of ADHD a child has, they are often dismissed as children with behavioural and discipline issues, and unfortunately, go through life labelled as rude, uncontrollable and naughty." WHAT CAUSES ADHD? Many different factors play a part in how our brains develop. Genetics play a role, with children having a predisposition to ADHD if it runs in the family. There are also environmental factors, such as toxins they were exposed to as children, as well as prenatal factors like medication consumed by a pregnant mother that can expose a foetus to potential hazards. "Expert groups have also advised parents to delay screen time in children for as long as possible. "The increasing speed of movies, constant advertisements and notifications can be overwhelming and over-stimulating, especially for young malleable brains that are still developing." Excessive screen time also means less exercise, less quality sleep and less time for homework, which affects a child's ability to be at their best, she says. Once a diagnosis has been made, doctors can write reference letters to advocate for the accommodation of certain needs, such as longer exam times, to be allowed sit where he or she can get up and move during class without disrupting others, or to be allowed to use fidget toys in class. "We need to manage and support these children effectively instead of just scolding or disciplining them every time," she says. Outside of school, psychological therapy is also essential for addressing related issues like depression or anxiety. Therapy often involves teaching children coping mechanisms, such as expressing their emotion constructively, as well as managing behaviours by using timers and reminders that can help a child stay focused. At home, parents can relook how they organise family life and set up routines and habits, such as structured meal times. Ensuring the house is clean, neat and orderly also helps. "These are little routines and structures that help everyone, but they are especially beneficial for individuals with ADHD."

Together for Tanjung Aru
Together for Tanjung Aru

The Star

time3 days ago

  • The Star

Together for Tanjung Aru

Alumni in action: Dr Chan (second row, fifth from right) and Chuah (far left) with other participants at the beach clean-up. COLLECTIVE effort often has the power to drive causes further. This was evident in a recent beach clean-up organised by alumni members of IMU University. Dubbed the #Offline16 campaign, the initiative – designed to encourage participants to disconnect from digital devices and reconnect with nature and their community – resulted in the collection of more than 130kg of rubbish along 2km of Tanjung Aru Beach in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, in just two hours. Held on the morning of June 28, the clean-up – conducted in collaboration with iCare Pharmacy, VitaHealth and the Meraki Daat Initiative – saw over 30 alumni members, partners and volunteers collecting 133.55kg of waste, contributing to the preservation of Kota Kinabalu's iconic coastline. Common non-biodegradable items found included plastic bags and bottles, cigarette butts, and hard plastic materials. The clean-up was a key highlight of the IMU Alumni Great Getaway 2025, an event from June 27 to 28 that brought together the varsity's alumni from across Malaysia for a weekend of reconnection, cultural exchange and purposeful engagement. IMU Alumni Association (2025/26) president Dr Paul Chan said the alumni are proud to give back. 'Beyond the scenic backdrop and joyful gatherings, this weekend was a powerful reminder of the impact we can make when we come together with intention. 'Through partnerships like this, we are building a culture of service and sustainability,' he said in a press release. Alumnus Chuah Chong Ee, who is also iCare Group of Pharmacies founder and managing director, added that the event created meaningful interactions among the alumni and brought them closer to the environment. The IMU Alumni Great Getaway 2025 marked a growing commitment by the alumni to lead in corporate social responsibility and community impact, the press release noted. The collaboration with partners stands as a model for how alumni networks can mobilise to drive meaningful change in the communities they care about, it added.

Hooked on autoplay, infinite scrolling and dopamine hits
Hooked on autoplay, infinite scrolling and dopamine hits

The Star

time20-07-2025

  • The Star

Hooked on autoplay, infinite scrolling and dopamine hits

PETALING JAYA: Let's face it – social media isn't a wellness retreat; it's a business and your attention is the currency. Tech experts explained that social media platforms use variable reward schedules and featu­res like autoplay and infinite scroll to hook users, exploiting our brain's craving for novelty and surprise. ALSO READ: When habit takes a toll on real life Universiti Malaysia Sarawak's senior lecturer Dr Chuah Kee Man said companies prioritise engagement metrics like daily active users and time spent on platform becau­se these are easily moneti­sed. 'Some platforms promote well-being features, but ironically, once you're in, they'll still lure you to stay longer than you inten­ded,' he said yesterday. Chuah added that one reason people cannot stop scrolling lies in a psychological mechanism called variable reward schedule, where the next scroll might lead to something unexpectedly rewarding. Combined with autoplay and infinite scroll features, he said this creates a digital experience with no clear 'ending'. ALSO READ: Start intervention early to curb SVA, say experts 'You keep going because you don't know when the next interesting post will appear. Before you know it, hours have passed.' While some platforms used to show prompts like 'You're all caught up', such friction-based features are now rare. 'Proactive, ethical design is at odds with the business model of maximising attention,' he added. Chuah said screen time dashboards and app timers are helpful, but they're mostly reactive. 'What we need are smarter safeguards – systems that can detect mindless scrolling patterns and offer timely, gentle nudges to disengage,' he said. 'Maybe it's time we treat social media algorithms like we treat cars or medicine – with safety standards and independent audits.' President of AI Society, Dr Azree Shahrel Ahmad Nazri, said social media apps are tapping into users' brain chemistry to keep them hooked – and it's no accident. 'Apps like TikTok use autoplay, infinite scroll and high-speed content to trigger dopamine respon­ses. It's a form of neuromarketing that hijacks the brain's reward system.' He explained that short videos designed to grab attention within the first three seconds, such as dance clips or pranks, are more likely to be promoted. 'These micro-rewards train users to crave fast, high-stimulation content, making it harder to disconnect,' he said. Instead of prioritising user well-being, tech companies focus on metrics like watch-through rate, likes and shares – signals that measure retention, not impact. 'These metrics guide A/B testing and algorithmic tweaks that make the platform more addictive.' He said ethical design could introduce friction, such as slow- loading transitions, time-limit reminders or cool-down breaks to interrupt compulsive scrolling. 'These features would disrupt the dopamine loop.' While platforms like TikTok and YouTube Kids offer screen-time dashboards and parental limits, Azree said that without default-on safeguards, the cycle continues unchecked.' Azree called for regulatory action inspired by models such as China's Douyin. 'Governments could mandate time restrictions, age-sensitive filters and cognitive impact assessments using the same principles as neuromarketing, but for user protection, not profit,' he added.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store