The UCS – School of Maritime Studies (SMS)

The long-awaited Sarawak Maritime Academy is now officially called The UCS – School of Maritime Studies (SMS) would be the second in the country, after the Malaysian Maritime Academy in Melaka.

Soft Opening on 8-8-2008
On the RM25 million School of Maritime Studies, State Second Finance Minister and Environment & Public Health Minister Datuk Seri Wong Soon Koh said during soft opening on 8-8-2008, it was a far-sighted effort to increase manpower in the industry by proving training for cadet officers and maritime engineers. He said the state government had set aside RM5 million for its development while businessman Datuk Ling Chiong Ho has supported the balance.

Tour of Campus
Well, let’s take a tour around the campus.

SMS – Administration Building view from the main road. Do you notice the shit ship?

SMS – Administration Building

Closer view of the ship-like building.

SMS – Ship of the Administration Building

Another view from different angle.  That pretty obvious sending you a message – this is a Maritime Academy!

SMS – Design feature of the Administration Building

Okay, time to go inside the Administration Building. Modern looking reception counter. Welcome On Board!

SMS – Reception Counter

Double storey library.

SMS – Library

Staff room. Got any beautiful lecturers or not?

SMS – Staff Room

This could be the Computer Laboratory or English Laboratory.

SMS – Computer Laboratory

This is one of the classroom.

SMS – Classroom

If I’m not mistaken, this is what they call Poseidon Borealis Full Ship’s Bridge Simulator. Unfortunately, I didn’t have change to test drive on it as the simulator is not ready yet. Anyway, can you recognize the ministers inside the photo?

SMS – Simulator Room

SMS provides hostel for outstation students. The hostel is just next to Administration Building.

SMS – Hostel

I managed to peek into one of the hostel room.

SMS – Hostel Room

You could find a workshop next to a swimming pool. No swimming pool photo because it is still under construction. The swimming pool will be ready by the end of 2008.

SMS – Workshop

To my understanding, there are other facilities such as UNITEST (Software Version) Medium Speed Engines room Simulator MED3D, Poseidon Borealis GMDSS / GOC Simulator, Building for smoke & fire drills and Fire protected-lifeboat house in a set of gravity davits.

Courses
The UCS – School of Maritime Studies is currently offering Diploma in Nautical Studies (DNS), and Marine Engineering (DME).

SMS – Open for intake

The diploma is awarded by United College Sarawak (Kolej Bersatu Sarawak) and professional certificate of competency is issued by The Malaysia Marine Department after meeting their requirements.

Cost
The estimated cost for the entire course is RM 39,000,00 excluding Modular courses and living costs.

Enquiries
If you want to be one of the Pirates of the Caribbean like Captain Jack Sparrow or new Popeye the Sailorman, you may consider to to enrol yourself into The UCS – School of Maritime Studies. For further information, please refer to:

UCS – School of Maritime Studies
No. 2, Upper Lanang Road, 96000 Sibu, Sarawak, Malaysia

Tel: +6084 216799
Fax: +6084 217179
Email: sms@ucs.edu.my
Website: www.ucs.edu.my

Without any hesitation Donkey and I decided to check it out! POPULAR Bookstore is not something unusual for people staying in Klang Valley, you guys may find it anywhere. However, this is the first branch they open in Sibu to test the water after they did some marketing research last year. I believe they kinda afraid people here don’t read and buy books. :thinking: Yeah, we only read blog! Just Kidding!

Finding Popular is as simple as ABC. You can even spot the big Popular wording from a distance outside the Delta Mall.

Okay, let’s go inside and straight to the book store at level 4.

Here we are. The typical red and black colour entrance!

Although it’s not as big as Popular in KL, you can still find variety of books and magazines there.

Donkey and I didn’t spend too much time there since it was pretty crowded with people from all walks of life. However, we knew we will be back again soon.

If you like books, you will definitely like Popular. But if you want to buy chicken, sorry to disappoint you, Popular never sells chicken!

My little wish:
Hopefully MPH and Kinokuniya Book Store will open their branches here! :praying: Okay, day dream! But, who knows what will happen tomorrow!

The situation is getting better at the moment! At least I could drive to work this morning.

However it might take some time to get back to normal!

Wuching and Clare, let’s see what happen to our Sacred Heart School!

No wonder it didn’t appear last two days. You should know what vehicle is that!

I don’t think bus is coming!

Mmm… That’s the right choice!

So now you believe your car can’t swim!

So where were we heading to? Dammit, actually we had to go to office by boat this morning!

Flood strikes Sibu again! This is the moment when drains and roads turn into river! Yes, you can have unlimited Teh Tarik too! Free of charge! Drink as much as you like. But, if you end up in hospital, don’t blame anyone! :tongue:

As expected, traffic jams everywhere. My little advice, don’t drive your car out during flood unless your car knows how to swim!

During flood, you will receive a lot of calls.

“Hey, your area gets flooded onot?”
“My car broke down!”
“Thanks God, you’re still alive!” (What kind of friend is that?)

Perhaps as a resident of this lovely town, we should buy at least a sampan! Or perhaps a speed boat so that you won’t be late to work! And don’t be surprised if you see this lovely town in movie.

WaterWorld II: Do you recognize the building? That’s the tallest building in Sarawak, Wisma Sanyan! :laugh: If our visionary government can’t solve the flood problem, consider to turn our lovely town into some sort of tourist attraction like Venice beside shooting film! :haha:

Nobody likes flood! Hopefully it doesn’t get worse! :praying:

Wah, who design this, is a bus stop!
New bus stop, I never see before ler!

The designer of this bus stop must be very creative o!
Creative your head! So stupid ar you, the posts ‘broken’ and the bus stop collapsed, creative, hmm….

Alamak, ya oh, must call someone to repair it!

Ok ok, very sorry, in fact I’m trying to ask:
Do you smell Gawai?
If the answer is no, then follow me.

Our town is ready to welcome Gawai. Shopping center is the best place to fell it.

Gawai decoration everywhere. Unique wooden craft best represent Iban.

This one also not bad.

Gawai shopping time? I’m expecting another sale is coming soon.

Another banner, Happy Gawai in Chinese.
Wait, see the banner underneath, Mini Post Office! Alright, this could be the only Mini Post Office open virtually everyday including holiday from 8:30am to 8:30pm. Are you sure? Yes, very sure, you now can pay all sort of bills here even after office hour! I believe this Mini Post Office is operated by Farley cause the staff on duty there all in green colour. Who cares, as long as we can pay the bloody monthly bills, right?

OMG! Is that a mad cow?

Oh no, are two cows.
Who put the cows here?
Hey, someone selling the cows in front of shopping mall, crazy or what?

Oh I see, not mad cows, not for sale, is a promotion for Colostrum, a chewable Colostrum Tablets from New Zealand. So these cows must come from New Zealand as well??

Monkey: Hello, cows, I’m monkey, great to see you mate!
Cow: Wowww… (Sign of friendliness, I suppose.)

Monkey: Argh…damn cow, you wee wee in front of me?
Cow: So what!

I feel this one fell very sian (boring).

Cow: Hey Monkey, why don’t you come to join me, then you will know how sian is.
Monkey: No, thank you.

Try to keibo, listen what these children say.

A: Poor cow, they tie them.
B: I think they gonna kill them soon.
C: Yeah, make them a nice steak.
A: I agree, look delicious.

OMG, they though this is market?
Then I found out this,

What, cow for sale!
2 COWs = RM 6,500
1 COW = RM 3,500

Monkey: Yeah, I want to buy one.
Donkey: You donkey or what, where you wanna to keep it, your bedroom or toilet?
Monkey: ……(I forgotten I’m no longer stay in the jungle).

Okay, time to go shopping.
Bye bye!

p/s: I think the wee wee one is not a cow but bullshit, cause it has the thing….