(Front, from second left) Spritzer marketing head Shiao Chan, Yuneswaran, Sivakumar and Vicky with a new teal bin at the entrance to Batu Caves. — ONG SOON HIN/The Star
Large teal-coloured bins will be placed in several locations across Batu Caves in Selangor, to collect plastic bottles during Thaipusam.
The 10-bin contribution by Spritzer Bhd is part of the Clean Thaipusam initiative, and will be available on two days heading to the peak of Thaipusam on Feb 1.
Clean Thaipusam, now in its sixth year, is run by volunteers working towards ensuring a clean and safe environment for devotees.
Project head JK Vicky said the movement had grown from 20 volunteers in Sri Subramaniar Swamy Devasthanam in Batu Caves in 2019 to over 600 today, spanning six main Lord Muruga temples across the peninsula.
The other temples are Thaneermalai Shree Balathandayuthapani Devasthanam in Penang, Sri Subramaniya Swami Devasthanam in Kedah, Sri Subramaniar Alayam in Melaka, Sri Subramaniam Paripalana Saba in Johor and Kallumalai Arulmigu Subramaniyar Kovil in Perak.
Vicky said the group aimed to recruit over 1,000 volunteers this year and set a record for the largest multi-location cleanup campaign in a single day.
“Last year, we collected 320kg of plastic waste in two days.
“We aim to collect more this year,” he said at a press conference in Batu Caves.
He added that plastics made up the bulk of the waste generated during the festival.
“Many will bring bottled milk and need a place to throw the empty bottles,” said Vicky.
Fruit bank initiative. — Filepic
He said the group would also continue its fruit bank initiative.
“Leftover fruits from prayers and offerings will be collected and redistributed to animal shelters instead of being discarded, reinforcing a zero food waste approach,” he said.
National Unity Deputy Minister Yuneswaran Ramaraj, who was present at the launch, commended Clean Thaipusam for fostering unity through volunteerism during a festive celebration.
“This is a very good initiative as it encourages collaboration among Malaysians during such a beautiful occasion,” he said.
Kuala Lumpur Sri Maha Mariamman Temple Devasthanam trustee Datuk Sivakumar Nadarajah said managing waste during Thaipusam had always been a difficult task for the temple management and he appreciated the support in spreading environmental awareness.
Separately, the Thaipusam Task Force has also lined up some initiatives, including a medical camp at Batu Caves to provide medical emergency support, in collaboration with Universiti Malaya Medical Centre.
Its founder Sentosa assemblyman G. Gunaraj, who set up the committee when he was a councillor at Selayang Municipal Council, said this was the 13th year the task force has connected agencies and companies to provide community services during the festival. — By VIJENTHI NAIR and M. DHAANYA
