Bintulu: June 13, 2023, Centre of Rehabilitation in the Community (Pertubuhan Pemulihan Dalam Komuniti) (PPDK Bintulu) has started a booth for selling hydroponic vegetables in front of the centre. The hydroponic vegetables are grown by young disabled (OKU) entrepreneurs under the program “Team Up with Invisible Minority Yet Powerful Organisms (T-I-N-Y) under the “Knowledge Transfer Grant Scheme (KTGS)”.

The program was carried out under Biodiversity Borneo Laboratory, Institute of Ecosystem Science Borneo (IEB), Universiti Putra Malaysia Bintulu Sarawak Campus (UPMKB) together with University Community Transformation Centre-UCTC UPM by vision and mission to plan community programs through the transfer of knowledge and development.

The program led by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Leong Sui Sien (Associate researcher IEB and lecturer of Department of Animal Sciences and Fishery, Faculty of Agricultural Sciences and Forestry, UPMKB). AP Dr. Leong hopes this program can provide a supportive environment and cultivate interest for people with disabilities to plant their hydroponic vegetables.  The program can upgrade the economy of the centre and stimulate their sensory or sociable skills by doing hands-on hydroponic planting using effective microbes and selling their products at the centre.  

Dr. Syeed SaifulAzry Osman Al Edrus (Director, IEB) encourages younger disabled members to join the program. He hopes that the program may nurture more disabled people to become self-employed and become entrepreneurs. “Although many disabled persons struggle to obtain a job, we hope that by strengthening their abilities to grow vegetables for self-sufficiency through this hydroponic gardening program, they will find some hope in crop farming”, said Prof. Dr. Patricia King Jie Hung (Deputy director, IEB). Dr. Latifah Omar (Head of Biodiversity Borneo Laboratory, IEB) further added that the programme would seek out more disabled entrepreneurs, give them training and create business opportunities for them.

To achieve the program T-I-N-Y, the team has shown true dedication and determination. Sincere gratitude to the IEB team: Prof. Dr. Patricia King Jie Hung (Deputy director), Dr. Mugunthan A/L Perumal (Senior Research Officer, IEB, UPMKB), Mdm. Hadiah Binti Sandi (Senior Asisstant Registrar), Mdm. Fariza Binti Sarkawi (Secretary), Dr. Azizul Hakim Lahuri (Senior lecturer, Department of Science and Technology, Faculty of Humanities, Management, and Science), and Mr. Bohari bin Mohd Zini (Successful Hydroponic Entrepreneur, Bintulu).