NAME
Dr. MD SAH BIN HJ SALAM
EDUCATION
PhD (Computer Science), (Speech Processing and AI) , Universiti Teknologi Malaysia
MASTER (Computer Science), (Speech Processing and AI), Universiti Teknologi Malaysia
Bachelor of Science (Computer Science), University of Pittsburgh, PA, USA
CAREER EXPERIENCE
| August 2015 – Present | Head of Research Vicubelab Group Faculty of Computing Universiti Teknologi Malaysia |
| Oct 2014 – July 2015 |
System Analyse (Industrial Training) |
| Dec 2012 – Jan 2013 | Visiting Researcher Groupo de Technologia del Habla (Speech Technology Group) Universidad Politechnica de Madrid, Spain |
|
2012 – 2014 |
Program Coordinator for Computer Graphics and Multimedia Software |
| 2010 – Present |
Senior Lecturer |
| 2001 – 2010 |
Lecturer |
| 1997 |
Tutor |
FIELD OF RESEARCH :
Computer Vision, Speech and Image Processing
Intelligent Computing
You can request for my CV
TIMELINE
1974 Born (the 7th from 8 siblings)
1981 My father Died
1981 – 1986 Primary School : Sekolah Kebangsaan Kangkar Tebrau Johor Bahru
1987 – 1989 Secondary School: Sekolah Menengah Majidi Baru Johor Bahru
1990 – 1991 High School :Sekolah Menengah Teknik Melaka, Melaka.
1992 – 1993 Kolej Pendidikan Persediaan, ITM : English As a Second Language Course
1993 – 1995 Kolej Pendidikan Persediaan, ITM : Freshmen Years (Computer Science)
1995 – 1997 University of Pittsburg USA (Computer Science)
1997 -1999 UTM tutor at Faculty of Computer Science and Information System
4.4.1999 Getting married to Rasidah,
1999 -2001 Master by Research at UTM
13.3.2000 Zubair was Born (1st Child)
2001-2005 Lecturer at UTM
5.10.2001 Nabihah was Born (2nd Child)
22.12.2002 Najihah was Born (3rd Child)
2005 – 2009 PhD at UTM
2006 Went for HAJJ with wife and in laws
13.9.2006 Saad was Born (4th Child)
28.8.2007 Said was Born (5th Child)
2.2.2009 Nadzirah was Born (6th Child)
2010 Senior Lecturer at UTM
30.6.2011 Amnani was Born (7th Child)
2012 3 Months Practical Training at Speech Research Group , Spain
17.10.2013 Ameena (8 months) Died in her mother worm before birth (8th Child)
About Me, Education and Family.
I was born in Johor Bahru in February 1974. I am the 8th child of my family and the third son after my 2 brothers. I have 4 elder sisters and 1 younger sister who was born after I was a year and half.
My first education was at Sekolah Kebangsaan Kangkar Tebrau, JB. I stayed at the school until standard 6. I was among the 5 best students in the school with my “penilaian” examination during standard 5 was 4A and 1B (there were only 2 person got 5A and 3 person got 4A 1B) and become the top student (no 1 in examination) in the school in standard 6. It was quite an achievement for an orphan like me during that time (My father died when I was seven). Nevertheless, I did not further my secondary education at “high ranked” school. Instead just a “kampung” school – Sekolah Menengah Majidi Baru, JB. I did apply (well.. literary it was my sister and my teacher who did that) for MRSM and other school but it is Allah’s will that I did not go far from my mother.
Sekolah Menengah Majidi Baru (SMMB), was not really a best school in term of education and infrastructure. I was lucky being “among the best”, I was put in the top class where the schools gave more priority. SRP (Sijil Rendah Pelajaran) was taken in form 3 and I got first class and 8 Aggregate. There were only 8 students got below 10 aggregate and among them only 2 were boys.
I decided this time I wanted to go away from my family and stayed at hostel. I applied for some good schools and did get offers from Sekolah Menengah Sains and other schools but I decided to stay at Sekolah Menengah Teknik Melaka. This was where I learned to be independent, learned to make friend, travel alone (although Johor and Melaka is not so far) and involved in becoming leaders. I was a soccer player since I was in primary school so I joined the school soccer team and got one of the important post in prefect (pengawas). That was where I first know my wife, Rasidah . She was a good, innocent, traditional, strict, friendly but shy girl wearing long tudung but not so “cute” looking girl (in my opinion though) and socialized still I didn’t know why she has many suitors among the guys. One of them was my close friends who always ask me to send ” salam” and letter to her where I refused to do so. It was not because of jealous as I was not interested at her during that time but I just did not like these “Jiwang” kind of things. I always met her as we were in the same group in prefect association and she took order from me as I was one of the prefect section leaders. We respected each other and talked only about “work” . I noticed that she felt awkward whenever she gave report to me but not to other section leaders. I did not make any move or whatsoever to “tackle” her as I knew my close friends liked her. We took the SPM (Sijil Penilaian Malaysia) in form 5. I got first grade with good result for all the subjects taken (all subject were credited and above – distinction). Before we left the school Rasidah gave a book to all her friends (many did that but not me) including me to write “something” so I did write something to her saying how I respected her and hope she remain the same if I ever met her again.
After SPM I applied for several places including a Malaysia twining program with overseas universities. I was called for interview by the program committee. The interview was in English with 4 panels from JPA, Petronas and I did’nt remember the other 2. Since I was from mechanical background they asked me to explain subject from mechanical field in English. Just imagine, how would a students in form 5 where no English oral experience explain the topic of technical drawing. Well, I did. They seems to like my explanation and I got offered to further my study at KPP-ITM (Kolej Pendidikan Persediaan, ITM) at Shah Alam, Selangor in the field of Computer Science in the program called MUCIA-11. It was a twining program with Indiana University USA. They told us that we were among the creams of the crops to be selected. Many had applied but rejected. I stayed there for more that 2 years for English intensive program and freshmen subjects. The lecturers were mostly from America and the language medium was English. Still whenever we got to the hostel we spoke Malay so although our English written skill was improving but orally not as much. As for Rasidah, we never met only once in a year I got her Raya Greeting card addressed to my hometown. I did reply back as friendly gesture.
During the freshmen years, some of my friend who failed to maintain 2.7 CGPA and above every semester were dismissed from the program and “send” to ITM (now UITM). I heard they scored with flying colors in ITM. I was offered to further my study at University of Pittsburg, PA, USA. I stayed in the US for about 2 years. This was where I improved my English by mixing with foreigners. Although the Malays there were around 80 during that time, I determined to improve my English by mixing with other races. One way to do that was to join the Mosque program where most of the brothers were from Pakistan, Arabs, Turki and few Americans black and white. They did not speak Malay so English was the only choice. During my years there I still contacted Rasidah by sending cards and there was one day, during Hari Raya where everybody went to class leaving me alone at home as i did not have class. I felt very lonely and empty and need somebody to talk. I called my mother and family. As usual whenever I started talking a long conversation my mother would asked me to stop, fearing of the high telephone bill that I might get so she rushed to end the conversation. I decided to Rasidah at her home. She was shocked as out of no way a called from US was meant for her. Her voice still the same after years of not hearing from her but this time she seems happy receiving call from me. She giggled a little and that was nice to hear. I felt my emptiness during Hari Raya filled. I graduated earlier than the time given my JPA (as I was able to fight for many transfer credits from KPP-ITM-Indiana University and took many subjects).
I got offer from UTM as tutor. I was asked to further for my MAster by the administrators. I applied for overseas Universities but during the interview with UTM top management, I was told to do at UTM since I already had the experienced study abroad. I obliged, although I felt it was unfair. I was nearly 25 years old that time and I decided to get married. I asked my mother to look one for me. She told me to look for myself so I decided to give a try to Rasidah. I called her asking whether she was still “available” and there was no one try to “minang” her. She told me she was still single. I told her my intention to “risik” her. I would like to see her physically and she agree to that. She never thought of that. Nevertheless, she agreed. So we met and talk at Johor Bahru. She came all the way from Kuala Lumpur by bus. The meeting was without the knowledge of her parents and my parents (it was her request – she did not want her family to know since it was just a meeting). We planed to talk for 1 hour only so I bought her ticket back to “kampung” at Batu Pahat within that time. I fetch her and brought her to the public library at Larkin where many people were there to do initial “risik”. We didn’t realized time flies so fast we ended talking for more than 1 hours. I tried to observed her physically but the only part that I can see are the face and the hands. Others were covered with loose clothing and shapeless. I liked her for covering her “aurat” very well. She was still the same as I know before nothing seems changed physically and behavior. After nearly 2 hours I took her to the bus stop, bought a new ticket and leave her to wait alone as I need to perform my asar prayer on time (after azan). I told her to make instiharah and I also to make istiharah and after 3 days I would call her back. After 3 days I called her and asked her result of Istiharah .. she told me to tell my result of instiharah first. I told her I that I did not find any sign in my istiharah but my heart seemed to incline into marrying her. I ask her whether I can asked for her hand the reply was ” Siapa Cepat Dia Dapat” … what?? i knew for sure someone else also want to win her hand. So I told my mother about my intention and we got married after 3 months of engagement. Only after marrying her I knew why other guys tried to wooing her. I am lucky to be her husband. I asked her why she chose me as I knew she may have other suitors, the reply was that because I left her to take the bus alone because of Asar prayer. She believed someone who could safeguard his solat would become better husband. She stop working as quantity surveyor on my request as she was working in KL and I was in JB. It was during my first years of doing Master we got our first son. During my Master graduation she impregnated my 2nd child.
to be continue ..
