KOTA KINABALU: More than 130 government and volunteer divers joined forces to carry out an underwater clean-up of the islands in the Tunku Abdul Rahman Park here.
The one-day event on Saturday, titled Borneo Ultra Ocean Cleanup, was organised by the Royal Malaysian Navy Submarine Force with members of the Sabah Diving Squad.
They were joined by divers from the army, marine police, Malaysia Maritime Enforcement Agency, Fire and Rescue Department, Civil Defence Department, National Security Council and the Fisheries Department.
Clean-up day: A diver collecting rubbish on the seabed. — Universiti Malaysia Sabah
A total of 138 divers and volunteers were assigned to carry out clean-up work at several sites, including the Sabah Parks jetty and islands of Mamutik, Manukan, Sapi and Sulug.
Sabah Diving Squad club president Sim Fui said he hopes more underwater clean-up campaigns will be carried out in the future.
He said the unfavourable weather earlier in the morning had threatened to derail the programme.
“After waiting for some time, the weather improved and surprisingly, the visibility was good and the temperature was just right for all the divers,” he said.
This year, club members participated in the second clean-up organised by the navy and also collaborated with other organisations such as the Marine Research Foundation.
