Proceeding of 1st International Conference onHuman Capital and Knowledge Management on 3-4December 2013, Menara Razak, UTM Kuala Lumpur.

No ISBN 978-96711814-2-3

Woman participation in seaweed industry in Semporna

A. Hossin, A. T. Abdul Rahman, R. Hussin, N. I. Kanyo, N. Salleh,B. A. Tamring, S. Md. Yasir & N. Rosli

Unit Penyelidikan Etnografi dan Pembangunan (UPEP)Sekolah Sains Sosial,

Universiti Malaysia Sabahaisahhossin@ymail.com

Abstract

Women play an important rolenot only in the familyinstitution to ensure familymembers are in a comfortablebut in the same time a sourceof employment that cancontribute to an increasefamily income and also thecountry. Accordingly, it isnot surprising that women arenow the first time active invarious fields to improvethemselves and thus take onthe responsibility of helpingher husband in the head of thefamily that is incomegenerating. Various projectsand programs undertaken by the

government to ensure thatrural communities are equallyenjoy development and one ofthe project is through seaweedcultivation project uses theconcept of Mini Estate . Miniestate seaweed is one of the16 Entry Point Projects (EntryPoint Projects) (EPPs) underthe agricultural sector hasbeen identified as one of theNational Key Economic Areas(National Key Economic Area)(NKEA) under the EconomicTransformation Programme(Economic TransformationProgramme) or short ETP. Theobjective of this study issurvey at the extent of theinvolvement of women in

Proceeding of 1st International Conference onHuman Capital and Knowledge Management on 3-4December 2013, Menara Razak, UTM Kuala Lumpur.

No ISBN 978-96711814-2-3

seaweed cultivation industryin Semporna. The study area ison the Selakan Island thatinvolving of 20 respondents.Data were collected throughquestionnaires, in-depthinterviews and fieldobservations. The studyreveals the techniques andtechnologies that try toimplementation in seaweedcultivation industry throughMini Estate indirectlyprovides a new perspective tothe community to provide spaceand opportunities for womennot to be marginalized fromthe mainstream of developmenttaken by the government.

Key word: Women, Seaweedcultivation and Estate Mini

1. Introduction

Although in principle, seaweedcultivation in Sabah has longbeen worked out, but theeffort to commercializeseaweed is limited to the saleat the town of Semporna oramong seaweed food lovers

only. It can be seen that thelack of knowledge and newtechnologies that can be usedto further expand seaweed areone of the factors thatlimited the commercializationof seaweed cultivation inSemporna. Therefore, to helpthe fishermen, delivery,marketing and credit expansionaccelerated to increase theuse of better technology inaddition to pay attention tothe steps of research abouttechnical problems that canaffect the productivity of thepoor so that theirproductivity and their incomeincreased (Ishak Shari, 1992).

Seaweed cultivation was aproject Kementerian PembangunanLuar Bandar dan Wilayah (KPLB)through the Program PembangunanRakyat Termiskin (PPRT). Seaweedcultivation is one of the mainindustry and be a high impactcultivation to enhance thefisherman household income. Itis because before they jointhe seaweed cultivation, thefisherman only depend theirlife on fisheries (Mizpal,

Proceeding of 1st International Conference onHuman Capital and Knowledge Management on 3-4December 2013, Menara Razak, UTM Kuala Lumpur.

No ISBN 978-96711814-2-3

2011). The seaweed cultivationwas a project that focusing tosocioeconomic development inrural society and can give thegood opportunity to ruralsociety especially forcultivator if they know how tocommercialize their seaweed.It is because the seaweedcultivation not only seen canenhance the household economybut also be a one of thegovernment method to reducepoverty in Semporna andconservation of coral reefs(Ahemad Sade et al., 2006).

According to Adibi Rahimin Md.Nor et al. (2012), the historyof seaweed industry inMalaysia was started on 1978in Pulau Karindingan, SempornaSabah.At that time, seaweedwas found as a plant thatgrowth in a natural conditionand founded by researcherProfessor Maxwell S. Doty fromUniversity Hawaii. He broughtsome seaweed sample back tolaboratory in America to dosome identification and namelyas Kappaphycus alvarezii taken byone of the biologist from

Filipina Vicente Alvarez.After the identification done,the seaweed Kappaphycus alvareziitype was introduce andplanting in Sabah. This typealso knows as red seaweed andcommercialized on 1989.

Siti Aisyah Narudin (2011)thinks that seaweedcultivation was a one of thegovernment effort to help poorcommunity in Sempornaespecially for community inMini Estate Sejahtera project(Mesej). University MalaysiaSabah (UMS) get trusted fromSabah Park’s to handle theproject under the AssociateProf. Dr. Suhaimi Md. Yasir.UMS was directly involved inseaweed industry as a planner,supply new technology such asseaweed fertilizer and alsoone of the owner seaweedcultivation projects usingEstate Mini system in Sempornaunder the Kementerian Pertanian &Industri Asas Tani like theannouncement from ViceChancellor UMS, Brig. Jen.Prof. Datuk Seri Panglima Dr.

Proceeding of 1st International Conference onHuman Capital and Knowledge Management on 3-4December 2013, Menara Razak, UTM Kuala Lumpur.

No ISBN 978-96711814-2-3

Kamaruzaman Hj. Ampon (NikJasni Che Jaafar, 2011).

Prof. Datuk Seri Dr.Kamarulzaman Hj. Ampon (MizronMaralang, 2011), in his speechsaid that UMS also do the sameproject through PPRT in BanggiIsland and the leader for thisproject is Prof. Dr. RidzwanAbd Rahman cooperate withKKLW, LKIM, Pejabat DaerahKudat and Sabah FisheriesDepartment on 1998. He alsosaid that the effort todevelop seaweed industry was aparallel with the governmentneeded that every universityshould produce qualityresearch and relevant tosociety and the country(Mizron Maralang, 2011).

With the potential to expandand commercialize seaweedcultivation in Semporna, thegovernment through a fewcoordinated was built andeleven companies was chosen asa participate in Estate Miniseaweed cultivation project.This effort hopefully cansuccess and indirectly help

the community in that areagetting out of the povertyline.

2. Objective and backgroundof the study

Have two objectives in thispaper to be achieved. First isto investigate women involvedin seaweed cultivationindustry. The second one is toinvestigate how far the EstateMini concept can help thesewomen to enhance theirhousehold economy.

Selakan Island was a one ofthe island in Semporna andhave their own unique. SelakanIsland was located in NorthEast of Semporna town. It’sonly taken around forty fiveminute to one hour using aspeed boat from Seafest Hoteljetty in Semporna town.Location of Selakan Island wasnot far from Sebangkat Island(see the Map 1).

Map 1: Location of SelakanIsland

Proceeding of 1st International Conference onHuman Capital and Knowledge Management on 3-4December 2013, Menara Razak, UTM Kuala Lumpur.

No ISBN 978-96711814-2-3

Source:http://divesabah.com/diveguide/factsheets/

Bodgaya.htm

Selakan Island gets its namefrom Panglima Selakan who cameto this island to plant thecoconut tree. He was a decentfrom Panglima Rabbani bin ImamIsnin who was an indigenouspeople in this island (SabahParks, 2001). Selakan Islandhave around 32 hectare andhave the facilities such asprimary school, cemetery andmosque. The total of residentin Selakan Island is around348 people with 38 number ofhouse (Pejabat DaerahSemporna, 2010) and theydivided in two ethnic Bajauand Suluk.

3. Method

This research use qualitativeapproach. However, theresearcher also using the datathat collected fromquantitative method to supportthe data of qualitative.Qualitative method wascollected through in-depthinterview with seaweedcultivation employee inSelakan Island. Meanwhile, theobservation also was used tohelp more information aboutseaweed cultivation usingEstate Mini.

4. Findings

4.1 The implementation ofEstate Mini in SelakanIsland

According to Suhaimi Md. Yasir(2012), Estate Mini was aconcept administrationimplementation by UMS toPEMANDU (Unit Pengurusan Prestasidan Pelaksanaan under PrimeMinister Department) tointerpreted innovation thatwas UMS do in laboratory tosociety. Seaweed cultivation

Proceeding of 1st International Conference onHuman Capital and Knowledge Management on 3-4December 2013, Menara Razak, UTM Kuala Lumpur.

No ISBN 978-96711814-2-3

through Estate Mini was afirst concept that wasintroduced and start toimplementation in a few areain Semporna. This project getsa full donation from thegovernment by using thecommunity base, commercialapproach.

Estate Mini was a model thattaking care the entire factorof upstrean. One of that is totransform the entireadministration with scienceand technology andmechanization. Seaweedcultivation through EstateMini can reduce the total oflabor in sea to 20% and therest of 80% in platform(pelantar). One of theobjectives of Estate Mini isto enhance the quantity andquality of the seaweed so theseaweed can be selling in ahigh price.

According to manager of GreenLeaf Synergy Company, En.Ramlan Ali before theimplementation of Estate Miniin Selakan Island, the system

already tested in SebangkatIsland. Selakan Island becomea demonstration farm and isguideline in seaweedcultivation to produce highquality and productivity ofthe seaweed using techniqueand new technologies (as showsin Picture 1).

Picture 1: New technology andtechnique through Estate Mini

4.2 Women involving inseaweed industry

In globalization era, womenhave a important role and notlimited to reproductive workbut also do some productivework to generate income fortheir family. It is seemdifference with the women rolein the traditional society asa Hamsiah Abdul Hamid (1995 inZaherawati Zakariah, 2008)said women role in traditionalsociety was limited to be asupporting role for man. This

Proceeding of 1st International Conference onHuman Capital and Knowledge Management on 3-4December 2013, Menara Razak, UTM Kuala Lumpur.

No ISBN 978-96711814-2-3

situation still happens untilnow and also happen in seaweedindustry where the womenbecome a daughter, wife,mother and also a part of thesociety doing supporting rolesto her family, relatives andneighbor such as helping tocut the seaweed for seed andtie the seaweed seed in raffiarope (a shown in Picture 3)without them realizing it.

Picture 3: One of the womenrole in seaweed industry is

cutting the seaweed for seed.

In addition, the role of womenis often mistaken for doingsome work such as only do theless important work due to theperception by some concernedwith the role of women as

discussed by Jalihah Md. Shah(2010) where even the womenhave gone through the variousstages of progress, but thereare some assumptions thatpeople will disadvantage womenin many ways. Some of theseassumptions include only wagework was considered asproductive work, the level ofexpertise and limited skills,a work which is consideredless important and the last isher own status lowered ascompared with men.

The role of women is seen onlylimited to reproductiveactivity and presumptionsraised by Jalihah Md Shah(2010) is seen to some extentreflects the situation ofwomen in the seaweed industryin the study area. The levelof expertise and limitedskills make women less toinvolve in seaweed cultivationand if there was it limited tothe work of more synonymouswith their nature of the womenthemselves who need care suchas cutting seaweed for use asseed.

Proceeding of 1st International Conference onHuman Capital and Knowledge Management on 3-4December 2013, Menara Razak, UTM Kuala Lumpur.

No ISBN 978-96711814-2-3

The perception among men aboutwomen are not suitable forseaweed cultivation but rathermore appropriate to do thehousehold chores and take careof little children is one ofthe factors that cause womencannot be actively involved inseaweed cultivation project,and make the limited role ofwomen in productive activitiesthan men. This indirectlylinked to cultural factors andthe safety of women at sea.

Rosnah Ismail (2004) in hisstudy found that there aresome communities inBalambangan Island, Kudatwhich excluded women in thecultivation and harvesting ofseaweed on the grounds ofbelief which they feared wouldaffect the growth of seaweed.This belief was shared withthe communities in the studyarea where they believe theseaweed origin is from a mannamed Tambalang. Therefore,there are many taboos that

they should abide to maketheir seaweed can grows well.The taboos that associatedwith women, are women notallowed to touch the seaweedwhile in menstruation. It isbecause they fear if womentouch it, the seaweed cantgrowth well or damage. Theworld view of a societysometimes unknowingly causes agroup, whether men or womenwill be oppressed than equallyto achieving development.

4.3 Women role in seaweedindustry through EstateMini Project.

With the seaweed Mini EstateProject which is implementedin this industry will hope canchange this assumption andgive a new perspective on therole of women in seaweedcultivation industry. Althoughthe types of woks was notdiffer much with thetraditional concept but, it is

Proceeding of 1st International Conference onHuman Capital and Knowledge Management on 3-4December 2013, Menara Razak, UTM Kuala Lumpur.

No ISBN 978-96711814-2-3

able to influence patterns ofcommunity life in the studyarea where it is seen thatwomen are no longer do alimited role as an assistantbut the participated in theseaweed industry can be expandand generate income.

The analysis conducted foundthat those who more involvedwith this project in SelakanIsland are youths that agedbetween 16 and 40 years oldand above. A total of 20employees (survey in September2012) working in the seaweedEstate Mini project under thesupervision of the Green LeafSynergy Sdn. Ltd. Company. Thefindings also showed that the13 (65%) of the respondents iswomen and the remaining of 7(35%) respondents were male(as shown in Table 1).

Table 1: The percentage ofworkers by gender in Selakan

IslandGende

r/

Month

April 2012 September

2012Tota

l

Perce

nt

(%)

Tota

l

Perce

nt

(%)Women 10 59 13 65Man 7 41 7 35

Through surveys and researchconducted clearly show thatwomen are more dominant thanthe male employee in EstateMini where women enrollmentincreased from 59% in April2012 to 65% in September 2012.This condition is seen to givea positive impact on women'sparticipation in seaweedcultivation in the future.

Participation of women isgreatly influenced by changesin cultivation techniques inseaweed cultivation which inthe early stages of seaweedcultivation is different which

Proceeding of 1st International Conference onHuman Capital and Knowledge Management on 3-4December 2013, Menara Razak, UTM Kuala Lumpur.

No ISBN 978-96711814-2-3

requires more men energy thanwomen. The differencesculturing techniques throughseaweed Mini Estate projectthat emphasizes a moresystematic way of working,work together, innovate waysto use casino table and applyscience and technology canimprove the productivity ofseaweed from time to time canmake women's employee is seenan important as men.

Construction of the platformas seaweed cultivation centersallow women to work in a saferenvironment and also with thesupervision of companymanagers and their familymembers who also worked at thesame place. It is better thanbefore because the safetyfactor was one of the majorissues and makes less womeninvolved in seaweedcultivation. The salary forthe employee in Estate Mini ison average RM 700 per month.This salary will be one of thefactor that can influencewomen to involved in thisindustry and get the support

of her husband and otherfamily members. Meanwhile,they do not needtransportation and rent sothey can save the money andspent it to anotherrequirement. This situationcan directly reduce the costof family life and socialmobility in fisher communitieson the Selakan Island.

5. Conclusion

The changing perspective ofwomen role in the seaweedindustry is seen as a positivechange and more appreciatedand able to maximize the useof energy in increasing theproductivity of seaweed in thefuture.

Reference

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Proceeding of 1st International Conference onHuman Capital and Knowledge Management on 3-4December 2013, Menara Razak, UTM Kuala Lumpur.

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[14] __________________.http://divesabah.com/diveguide/factsheets/Bodgaya.htm. Peta Pulau Selakan.Diakses pada 22 Julai2013.

Interview

En. Ramlan Bin Ali (Manager ofGreen Leaf Synergy Sdn. Bhd.Company), April 2012