LENGGONG, 27–29 April 2026 – Pusat IDEA UKM continues to strengthen its high-impact knowledge transfer agenda through the implementation of a research project under the Malaysian Research University Network – Knowledge Transfer Programme (MRUN-KTP) grant scheme entitled “Enhancing the Economic Scale of Small-Scale Pekasam Entrepreneurs in Lenggong Geopark through Knowledge Transfer in Food Management Technology and New Business Models.”
The project is led by Assoc. Dr. Fatimah Wati Halim together with a team of researchers from Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM). The initiative is carried out under the leadership of Prof. Dr. Zulkefly Abdul Karim, Lead of the Social and Economic Transformation (TSE) Research Cluster, Pusat IDEA UKM. The initiative focuses on empowering local pekasam entrepreneurs through increased production capacity, improved product quality, and the exploration of more sustainable and competitive business models.
From 27 to 29 April 2026, the UKM research team conducted fieldwork and engagement sessions with local pekasam entrepreneurs in Lenggong Geopark to obtain a more comprehensive understanding of the actual conditions surrounding pekasam enterprises, including social and economic factors, business operations, and existing production environments. These engagement sessions also enabled researchers to identify the challenges faced by entrepreneurs in increasing production capacity and expanding market access for their products.
Findings from the fieldwork will serve as the basis for adapting incubator machine technology for five selected entrepreneurs, in line with the project’s objective of enhancing production capacity, strengthening product quality, and improving the operational efficiency of pekasam enterprises in Lenggong.
Subsequently, on 28 April 2026, an official project launching ceremony was held at the Pusat Pekasam Negara Lenggong as a platform to introduce the early implementation of the project to stakeholders and to coordinate field implementation activities in a more systematic manner for the five selected entrepreneurs involved in the project.
The ceremony also served as a platform to gather initial feedback from stakeholders and strengthen strategic collaboration with various agencies, including the Department of Fisheries Malaysia (Perak), the Federal Agricultural Marketing Authority (FAMA) (Perak), the Lembaga Kemajuan Ikan Malaysia (LKIM) (Perak), and the Koperasi Lenggong Geopark, all of which expressed their commitment to supporting the implementation of the project.
Discussions also focused on food safety, processing technology, the development of new business models, and market expansion strategies to ensure that local pekasam entrepreneurs are able to sustainably scale up their economic activities.
Overall, the implementation of the fieldwork and the project launching ceremony reflects the continued commitment of Pusat IDEA UKM in ensuring that university research outcomes are translated into meaningful impact that directly benefits the community, while preserving Lenggong’s traditional food heritage as a local product with strong growth potential.
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