PENANG will take part in the World Cleanup Day 2018 on Sept 15 by collecting trash along the coastal area near to Queensbay Mall.
The event, organised by USM Centre for Marine & Coastal Studies (Cemacs) and Cosmopolitan Homes from 6am to 10am, is supported by the Penang state government.
Other co-organisers include JCI Georgetown, Rehda Youth, JCI Penang, Eastern & Oriental Berhad, JCI Elite, Agilent and JCI Entrepreneur Metropolitan.
State Welfare, Caring Society and Environment Committee chairman Phee Boon Poh said Penang first initiated a cleanup campaign in 2008 via the efforts of former Pulau Tikus assemblyman Koay Teng Hai.
“From this localised effort, it grew to become a state programme and now a nation-wide movement. We want to have a clean Malaysia, physically as well as clean up corruption,” he told a press conference in Komtar today.
“This coincides with the Penang 2030 plan of Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow to make the state cleaner and greener, like avoiding throwing rubbish and recycling what can be recycled.”
Phee said as Penang is surrounded by sea, coastal areas need cleanups or else the state will get a bad reputation.
Also present were USM Centre for Marine & Coastal Studies director Prof Datuk Dr Aileen Tan, JCI Malaysia Area Global Goals director Michael Ong, Dell Global Business Centre project/programme director Phuah Chin Hong, Cosmopolitan assistant sales and marketing manager Dennis Chan and E&O manager (community relations group strategy & communications) A. Tharman.
Tan said USM would collect data and share it online with the world as 155 countries worldwide would celebrate WCD on the same day.
“We will also set up educational fun booth to help educate the public on managing waste. It’s not just creating awareness but also cultivating proper habits among ourselves,” said Tan.
She added that it is one of the easiest activities to organise as many companies, like Dell, Agilent and E&O Hotel, want to become part of the programme either by contributing financially or providing volunteers.
Some 60 JCI chapters would be involved in simultaneously running the cleanup campaign throughout the country.
Phuah said the cleanup campaign is also in line with the ocean plastic programme initiated by Dell Technologies chief executive officer Michael Dell two years ago and a ‘no plastic straw’ programme adopted throughout 127 Dell global facilities since July this year.
Chan said those interested to take part in the 4.3km beach cleanup from Queensbay Mall to the second bridge link can register at https://cosmo-homes.com/worldcleanupday2018/ or contact Firah at 011-33017238. The first 1,000 will receive free T-shirt and gloves and so far, over 800 had registered.
Story by K.H. Ong
Pix by Adleena Rahayu Ahmad Radzi