Social innovation initiative projects impress Najib
PUTRAJAYA: A 3D printed image of a prosthetic hand of a disabled child drew the attention of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak at an event to introduce the social innovation initiative of the Northern Corridor Implementation Authority at Perdana Putra here yesterday.
The prosthetic hand, in the design of the hands of fictional superhero Ironman, belonged to eight-year-old Muhammad Fathul Naqib Fakrul Iskar and was created by the company MyVista under a project of the NCIA social innovation initiative.
Muhammad Fathul Naqib, who is a student of Sekolah Kampung Tengah, Kemaman, Terengganu, was born without a part of the left hand, which caused him embarrassment when he was with friends.
“I asked for a (prosthetic) hand in the design of the hands of Ironman because I want to be as strong as him,” said the boy to the delight of those present at the event, held after the 18th meeting of the NCIA Council chaired by the Prime Minister.
MyVista CEO Sujana Mohd Rejab said he started the project to print 3D images of prosthetic hands at the end of 2013 to help the less fortunate.
Offering his service free of charge, Sujana said he obtained the materials to print the prosthetic hand through contributions from the public while the printing machine was obtained through a grant from the NCIA Bumiputera Micro Entrepreneur Development Programme.
“Although the prosthetic hand is not as sophisticated as a robotic hand, it can at least help individuals in terms of raising their confidence, especially to mingle in society.
“For example, Naqib was often mocked by his friends at school but after getting the prosthetic hand in the design of Ironman’s hands, he has started to gain friends,” he said to reporters.
Sujana, who is better known as Paksu, said those who wanted prosthetic hands often contacted him through his Facebook account ‘Sujana Rejab’.
He has produced over 50 products so far. Sujana, an icon of Negaraku 2017, said he runs a 3D printing business in Taiping, Perak, and had received orders from abroad, including South Africa, Nepal, Syria, Singapore and Thailand.
Meanwhile, another project under the NCIA social innovation initiative introduced to the Prime Minister was the Mustafa Hive Stingless Bee Sustainable and Hygienic Breeding Project in Kubu Gajah, Perak.
The project inventor, lecturer Dr Mohd Zulkifli Mustafa of Universiti Sains Malaysia, said the project focused on farming methods based on best agricultural practices and emphasised quality control in the production of honey.
“The enhanced quality of the honey produced has raised its price from RM150 per kg to RM520 since the programme was implemented,” he said.
Dr Zulkifli said the industry produced major raw materials, namely honey, bee bread and propolis, which could be a new source of income for the rural people. — Bernama