KOTA KINABALU: A Sabah student’s ingenuity in turning discarded fish scales into a crispy, flavourful dish has earned him regional recognition.
Danial Jauhari Sidar, a final-year Culinary Arts student at Keningau Vocational College (KVC), was named one of the two winners of the Asean Reimagine Waste Competition, organised by Catalyst of Change Asean.
The competition, which challenges participants to transform waste into valuable products, saw Danial competing against creative minds from across Southeast Asia.
On March 5, he was announced as one of the top winners, sharing the highest score of 88.5 per cent with Maria Lorizel O. Tengco from the Philippines.
Both received prizes worth US$50 each.
Danial’s winning entry was “Serunding Sisik Ikan” (fish scale serunding), a spiced floss made from discarded fish waste.
His idea stemmed from firsthand observations in KVC’s culinary workshop, where he noticed that fish scales were often discarded due to their strong odour and their tendency to clog sinks and drains.
Rather than seeing it as waste, Danial saw potential.
By applying his skills in food preparation and incorporating “tuhau”, a local ingredient among Sabahans, he developed a crispy and delicious fish floss suitable for all age groups, including children.
“I was really surprised to be selected as one of the two winners, considering how competitive it was.
“I even recorded my video just a few hours before the competition closed for entries,” said Danial, a top student who dreams of becoming a culinary lecturer and opening his own restaurant.
“I plan to start selling my ‘Serunding Sisik Ikan’ at my school’s co-op and hopefully expand to online platforms soon.
“I aim to turn this venture into a side income,” he added.
Danial’s teacher and project supervisor, Erma Gagah, said the former’s journey was not without challenges.
“Danial received a lot of criticism about his product, but I always believed in his idea.
“This victory is proof that with determination, innovation can lead to real opportunities. I hope this win will motivate him to keep striving,” she said.
KVC director Lumang Anak Lang praised Danial on his achievement, calling him an inspiration.
“Danial has set an excellent example for his peers.
“His dedication to innovation proves that with the right mindset, students can create opportunities while addressing real challenges in the world,” he said.
