Kuala lumpur: Villagers and rural communities hold untapped potential to become inventors and innovators as such roles are not limited to experts or scientists, said Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof. Fadillah emphasized the Jejak Inovasi Sosial (Social Innovation Trail) programme organised by the Malaysian Innovation Foundation (YIM) as a platform to uncover such talents, identifying, guiding, and assisting local innovators in rural areas to develop their ideas for the benefit of the community.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, Fadillah highlighted that anyone can become an inventor or innovator by creatively solving problems in their surroundings, whether at home, in the workplace, or in the village. He cited the example of making kek lapis (layer cake), suggesting that innovation could involve finding ways to speed up the process without compromising taste and quality. He made these remarks while officiating at the Sarawak zone Jejak Inovasi Sosial programme in Kampung Gita Baru.
Fadillah, who is also Minister of Energy Transition and Water Transformation, noted that YIM’s grassroots approach enables the identification of real problems faced by communities, which can then be addressed with practical and effective solutions. He encouraged local communities, who are familiar with the issues and challenges in their areas, to collaborate with researchers and relevant agencies to find larger-scale solutions.
Meanwhile, YIM chief executive officer Dr. Sharmila Mohamed Salleh explained that the Jejak Inovasi programme was introduced in Malaysia in 2011 as an in-situ initiative to track community innovations addressing economic, social, and environmental issues. In 2025, the programme was rebranded as Jejak Inovasi Sosial with a more structured approach based on the 4D ‘Discover, Develop, Disseminate and Diffuse’ methodology.
Among the community outreach programmes organised are MyIS Komuniti, MyIS Akar Umbi, Youth Innovative Challenge (YIC), and Innovation Catalysts (ICATs). Dr. Sharmila stated that this approach allows for a comprehensive exploration and assessment of various social, economic, and environmental issues, while also identifying innovative products and young social innovation talents, particularly for the Sarawak zone.
The final edition of the programme for this year included visits to handicraft centres, a water pollution research and rehabilitation facility, a handmade skincare product workshop, as well as chilli and lettuce fertigation farms.