KOTA KINABALU: Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor congratulated Telupid-based social entrepreneur Gerald Wong for bringing pride to Sabah and Malaysia after receiving the 7th Asean Rural Development and Poverty Eradication Leadership Award.
Hajiji said Gerald’s recognition as founder and chief executive officer of Farm Tokou reflected the ability of Sabahans to lead meaningful rural development initiatives at the regional level.
Speaking during a meeting at Menara Kinabalu on Thursday, Hajiji encouraged Sabah’s youth to draw inspiration from Gerald’s journey, noting that sustained commitment to community work can gain international acknowledgement.
Gerald, one of 20 recipients from 10 Asean countries, said the award was a shared achievement with rural communities involved in Farm Tokou’s modern agriculture programmes, including hydroponics, aquaponics and technology-driven farming.
He said Farm Tokou has operated in Telupid and Penampang and supported more than 100 rural communities across 10 districts since 2023, stressing that the recognition belonged to communities willing to embrace change in agriculture.
