PANGKOR: The Prime Minister today met entrepreneurs operating under the Northern Corridor Implementation Authority (NCIA) during his one-day visit to the duty-free island here, today.
Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin spent some 15 minutes with Mohd Arshad Yusup, 44, and Ismail Arshad, 62, who benefited from the NCIA Human Capital Development Programme in Kota Belanda here.
Arshad or better known as Alang by the locals has learnt the art of preserving and transforming puffer fish into house decorations, helmet, hat and knife sheath.
Arshad, who produces the items himself, sells them between RM30 and RM150 each, depending on their designs and size.
"I began selling puffer decorations eight years ago. I have the puffer fish decorative items hanging at my food stall and my customers, mostly foreigners were attracted to it.
"They loved it and from there, I started making puffer fish decorative items and selling them," he said adding that he is now able to make sale of between RM300 and RM400 per month.
Arshad said he received the puffer fish supply from the local fishermen after the fish were trapped inside the 'bubu' together with other fish but it is often thrown away because it is poisonous.
"Instead of letting them to go to waste, I decided to turn them into decorative souvenirs," he said when met at his food stall in Kota Belanda here.
The puffer fish is the second most poisonous creature on the planet after the Golden Poison Frog which is capable of killing humans in seconds.
Meanwhile, Ismail or fondly known as Pak Ngah has been processing sea cucumber products to make minyak gamat and air gamat in a traditional way since 20 years ago as his main income.
"It is a high risk job because I need to dive about five metres under the water to find the sea cucumbers.
"I am the fourth generation in the family to run this business as an 'anak Pulai' I want to continue the family's tradition. Every month, I process about 1,000 litre of sea cucumber waters," he said.
Muhyiddin also met Rasdi Ibrahim, 47, or better known as Pak Su. who is popular in the island with his sea-based products such as fish satay, salted fish, anchovies and other marine based edible items.
"I took me about three months to learn how to make fish satay which has become a hit not only in the island but also in foreign countries," he said.
The father of six said that he didn't expect the prime minister to drop by at his small factory in Sungai Pinang Kecil Baru jetty here.
"I am only a 'orang kampung' and I hope our prime minister is happy with the products that we have here and help us to better promote our products, not only in the country but also abroad." he said.