GREAT THINGS START FROM LITTLE IDEAS

IDEAS..... Minister of Resource Development and Information Technology Dr. Yee Moh Chai inspecting the products on display at the Sabah Got Ideas finale. He is accompanied by President of SATA Darwin Tan (left), Permanent Secretary Bruno Vun (right) and Vice President of SATA Severinus Kitingan (far right).

By : ELAINE MAH

THE MINISTRY of Resource Development and Information Technology fully supports the creation and development of resource ideas, according to its minister Datuk Dr. Yee Moh Chai.

He said this in his speech as Guest of Honour at the finale of Sabah Got Ideas (SGI), a programme held jointly by the government's Information Technology Development department and the Sabah Techpreneur Association (SATA). SGI is part of the programme of the Sabah ICT Month this November.

The SGI programme is formulated to create entrepreneurial avenues  through the development of business ideas. This is the second time that SGI is held since its inception last year. According to SATA sources, the previous SGI in 2011 was a success as some winners have started to commercialise their products.

"There are lots of bright people in Sabah. We are here because we know that young people nowadays have bright ideas and they want to try various things," Dr. Yee told the gathering at the finale.

Dr. Yee assured them that his Ministry would continue to provide sufficient funding to ensure that the program will continue in the future.

At the same time, Dr. Yee appealed to the budding entrepreneurs to also give back to SGI in the future.

"If anyone of you turn out to be successful as an entrepreneur through the support of this program please make sure that you donate some of your proceeds back to this program to ensure that it will continue," he said.

The SGI program awarded RM5, 000 to the three best ideas at the district level, namely,  Sandakan, Tawau, Beaufort, Kota Kinabalu and Ranau. The six best ideas at the state level were awarded RM20, 000 and a Netbook each.

For Stephanie Yap Su Chen, a budding 26 year old entrepreneur who won the best idea in SGI, the RM20, 000 will be used to market her product to shops as well as improve its packaging.

Yap developed a "Simple Garden" kit, a product designed to create awareness among the public on the importance of growing things. Priced at RM22.90 each, the "Simple Garden" kit comes with plant seeds, a tray, organic fertilizer, plantation medium, an instruction guide, and an activity book designed to educate children aged 5 and above on planting.

"Children these days do not  know how to plant things in the garden because for them this is difficult. This kit will provide a first hand experience for them," she said.

Yap, who spent a month to develop this idea, is also planning to introduce her product to schools. She has been in contact with Sayfol International school, a school based in Kota Kinabalu to market "Simple Garden Kit" to them.

Dr. Yee congratulated the winners of the SGI 2012, and praised the program.

"SGI may look a little bit small. But I think you should not worry about that. Great things start from little ideas," he said. (Insight Sabah)