KOTA KINABALU: Over 150 volunteers collected a total of 402kg of rubbish from the shores of Teluk Likas during a beach cleanup campaign here.
This initiative united students, scientists, and diplomats in Sabah's fight against marine pollution.
The programme was jointly organised by Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS), the Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability Ministry (NRES), the French Embassy in Malaysia, and eight secondary schools from Sabah and Labuan.
Teluk Likas is the second most frequented beach in Kota Kinabalu after Tanjung Aru, making its cleanliness and conservation a key public concern.
Participants included students, UMS staff, NRES officers, and representatives from the Minerals and Geoscience Department, Meteorological Department, and the French diplomatic mission.
The schools involved were SMK Elopura (Sandakan), SMK Tandek (Kota Marudu), SMK Sanzac (Kota Kinabalu), SM St. Michael (Penampang), SM Sains Sabah, SMK Pinawantai (Kudat), SMK Labuan, and SMK Tebobon.
French Embassy representative Dominique Husken-Ulbrich said the initiative aligns with global environmental efforts.
“This initiative reflects our commitment to the Paris Agreement and Sustainable Development Goals. It shows that educational and diplomatic collaboration can lead to real impact,” she said.
NRES deputy secretary-general (Development) Datuk Nor Yahati Awang described the event as a crucial step towards coastal conservation.
“Our beaches are national treasures. Through collective action, we can educate the public about their responsibility in protecting the environment,” she said.
UMS marine science programme head Dr Madihah Jaffar Sidek said the cleanup was part of their marine education campaign targeting youth.
“We want students in Sabah to develop a deeper connection with the environment and take ownership as guardians of the marine ecosystem,” she said.
The programme was held in conjunction with UMS’s Ocean Celebration initiative, which also marked the annual World Oceans Day (8 June), Coral Triangle Day (9 June), and World Sea Turtle Day (16 June).
