That's because he and his team are the first in the world to successfully grow the foul-smelling Rafflesia keithii flower. The unique bloom was cultivated way back in 1929 at the Bogor Botanic Gardens in Indonesia, but the technique was never documented so no one was able to repeat the feat till now.
Tourists clamour for a rare sight of the world's largest flower.
Like other locals who are involved in the Rafflesia conservation project, Kundang Ransigi is allowed to charge a small fee for those who want to view the blooms behind his house. Almost everyone would want the opportunity to see Rafflesia in bloom. The prospect of being able to cultivate it is certainly appealing, both in terms of conservation and potential ecotourism,'' says Jamili. Jamili's efforts led to a doctorate for him from the University of Aberdeen, Scotland, and a Guinness Effort Award for him and his two assistants. The journey began seven years ago when Sabah Parks researchers found a R. keithii fruit in the Poring Hotsprings area near Kota Kinabalu.