Kota kinabalu: The Malaysian Armed Forces (MAF) Family Welfare Association (BAKAT) of the Royal Malaysian Navy (RMN) Base Camp here has been chosen as the first group to implement the hydroponic farming project under the MADANI Economy Programme.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Defence Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin announced that the programme, in collaboration with Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS), involves 10 BAKAT members with an allocation of RM60,000. He detailed that each participant will receive a hydroponic set, greenhouse, solar system, including operational and maintenance equipment, and is expected to earn a supplementary income of RM900 per month. The announcement was made during his working visit to the RMN Kota Kinabalu Base, as part of the Jelajah Wira MADANI programme for Sabah.

Also in attendance were Eastern Fleet Commander Vice-Admiral Datuk Khir Junaidi Idris, Assistant Chief of Staff Personnel Services Major General Datuk Riezal Arif Ismail, and Naval Region 2 Commander Rear Admiral Datuk Yusne Mokhtar.

Mohamed Khaled highlighted that participants are expected to harvest their crops within six months, with plans to expand the project upon successful implementation and guidance from UMS. In a media statement following the programme, he also handed over school supplies to 662 Sekolah Kebangsaan Pangkalan TLDM students and presented a mock cheque for RM25,000 to the school.

Furthermore, the minister mentioned that the MAF Disaster Emergency Aid was provided to 15 personnel affected by the recent floods in Sabah. A mock cheque from the MAF Disaster Emergency Fund totalling RM400,000 from 11 companies was also handed over to the MAF Headquarters chief of staff, Lieutenant General Datuk Azhan Md Othman.