Hajiji Calls On Sabah Youth To Emulate ASEAN Award Winner, Gerald Wong
KOTA KINABALU, Dec 19 (Bernama) -- The selection of Sabah-born Gerald Wong as a recipient of the 7th ASEAN Rural Development and Poverty Eradication Leadership Award has brought honour to the state and Malaysia.
Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor expressed his pride in Gerald's success, highlighting that the founder and chief executive officer of Farm Tokou has demonstrated the capability of Sabahans to compete and lead rural development initiatives at the regional level.
“Gerald’s success should serve as an example, especially for Sabah’s youth, that diligence and commitment to community development can gain international recognition,” he said in a statement after meeting Gerald at Menara Kinabalu today.
On Dec 12, Gerald was among 20 recipients presented with the award in Bangkok, Thailand, at a ceremony witnessed by Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.
In a joint statement, Gerald said the award was the result of a collective effort with the rural communities actively involved in modern agricultural initiatives, such as hydroponics and aquaponics.
These initiatives are supported by skills training and community economic development programmes, which help generate sustainable supplementary income.
He said that so far, Farm Tokou operates in Telupid and Penampang. It has also guided over 100 rural communities across 10 districts since 2023, including in Sook, Ranau, Kudat, and Papar.
“This award belongs to all the communities who believe in modern agriculture as a catalyst for rural economic development,” said the Telupid native.
-- BERNAMA
