ENVIRONMENTAL education is taking on a new dimension as hundreds of young Malaysians tested their knowledge through games while learning about sustainability and disaster preparedness.
The approach was showcased at the sixth Pagamo Malaysia National Finals.
A total of 665 participants competed simultaneously at Chung Hwa High School in Muar, Johor, and Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman (UTAR) in Kampar, Perak.
From this, a total of 110 participants from Melaka, Johor, Negri Sembilan, Penang, Kedah, Perak, Terengganu, Selangor and Kuala Lumpur qualified for the global international competition to be held in April next year.
To get to the finals, the participants progressed through competitions held in various states.
They competed against one another in speed-based challenges while building their knowledge and unlocking missions related to environmental protection and disaster preparedness.
Deputy Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability Minister Syed Ibrahim Syed Noh, who launched the closing ceremony at Chung Hwa High School, said environmental protection was closely connected to people’s everyday lives.
“One of the key features of the event was its use of technology and creativity to deliver environmental education through gamification.
“This provided an effective and innovative way to engage with youths, allowing them to learn about environmental issues through interactive experiences rather than relying solely on conventional methods,” he added.
He said lessons from the competition could inspire participants to practise simple environmental habits in their daily lives, including saving water and electricity as well as maintaining cleanliness.
Syed Ibrahim, who is Ledang MP, also urged the young competitors not to wait until adulthood to contribute towards environmental protection, stressing that action should start now.
He thanked the organisers and sponsors as well as the participating environmental awareness teams for their efforts in making the event a platform for environmental education.
Four partner organisations involved in the environmental awareness activities received certificates of appreciation.
They were USM Green Technology Mobile Exhibition, Muar Municipal Council Eco Products, Muar River Through Time exhibition and Vegetarian Nutrition Board Game.
Organisers said the competition not only identified top performers, but also provided a platform for participants to exchange knowledge and turn what they learnt into action for a greener future.
