From Backyard Hobby To Royal Gift: Homegrown Grapes Presented To King Of Malaysia

By Mohd Fakri Awang Lah

ALOR GAJAH, June 4 (Bernama) -- What began as a hobby of growing grapes at home has led to the fruit being presented to His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim, King of Malaysia, in conjunction with His Majesty’s official birthday celebration recently. 

Sharing the experience, Mohammad Dzarul Hakim Dol Malek, 31, said the grapes were presented as a gift to His Majesty during the celebration on June 1. 

He said the opportunity to present the grapes, grown at the residence of renowned entrepreneur Tan Sri Lee Kim Yew at The Mines, Seri Kembangan, Selangor, came after Amanda Puteri Garden, which he runs with his mother Maizah Jalil, 59, and father Dol Malek Md Sap, 61, in Masjid Tanah, collaborated with Lee. 

He said the collaboration aims to commercialise grape cultivation on approximately 20 hectares of land in Rasa, Selangor, while helping to reduce the country’s dependence on imported grapes, which reach tens of thousands of tonnes annually. 

“The grapes have also been presented to the Raja of Perlis, Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin Jamalullail, and the Tengku Ampuan of Pahang, Tunku Hajah Azizah Aminah Maimunah Iskandariah,” he told Bernama. 

Reflecting on his family’s success, he said it all began as a hobby for his parents, who started planting grapes as part of their home landscaping in 2002. 

However, they became serious about grape cultivation during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 and began developing their 1.2-hectare orchard in Kuala Sungai Baru Hilir, Masjid Tanah, into a new agro-tourism product in the area. 

“To help my parents realise their dream, I quit my job as an accountant in Kuala Lumpur to fully focus on this venture. 

“After years of hard work, each rain shelter structure, housing more than 1,000 grapevines, is now capable of producing 100 kilogrammes of grapes per harvest, with three harvest seasons annually,” he said. 

Mohammad Dzarul Hakim said he cultivates the Jupiter grape variety, which is slightly oval-shaped and turns blackish red when ripe. 

He said the variety also has a unique flavour, a blend of lychee, mango and passion fruit, and it is very sweet when fully ripe. 

“Many people mistakenly believe grapes can only be grown in four-season countries, when in fact they originate from the Middle East, which has a hot and dry climate. 

“Even in four-season countries, grapes only bear fruit in summer, making Malaysia’s year-round warm climate actually very suitable for cultivation,” he said. 

However, he said there are certain challenges, involving fertilisation and pest control due to Malaysia’s hot and humid conditions. 

“When humidity is high, grapevines are prone to fungal infections, but spraying certain pesticides every two weeks can help suppress the growth of these parasites,” he added. 

-- BERNAMA