KOTA KINABALU: Beauty requires effort, just as nature thrives with care – a message two beauty queens hope to convey through a tree-planting event held here.
Miss World Malaysia 2025 Taanusitya Chetty and Miss World 2025 Opal Suchata are on a one week-long visit to the state that ended with the tree-planting ceremony in front of the historic Atkinson’s Tower here yesterday.
Taanusitya Chetty said she was struck by the beauty of Sabah’s sunsets and felt blessed to witness them.
She added that such beauty would not exist without the collective effort of the people in caring for the environment.
A butterfly enthusiast, she likened nature to the metamorphosis of a butterfly.
“When it is still a caterpillar, many may find it unappealing, but once it transforms into a butterfly, its beauty becomes clear.
“Let us work together to encourage our children to plant flowers and trees so that, in time, they can attract butterflies,” she said, adding that her favourite species is the Rajah Brooke.
Opal Suchata, who is from Phuket, said Sabah shares many similarities with her hometown, particularly in terms of natural beauty and climate.
“It takes a village to care for nature. We must all remember to preserve this beauty for the sake of future generations,” she said.
Earlier, Mayor Datuk Seri Dr Sabin Samitah said this year’s tree planting event is a continuation from last year’s Miss World programme, during which participants planted trees as a symbol of hope and renewal.
“Today, we continue that commitment by nurturing what was planted. The trees will later grow at the Tun Fuad Stephens Botanical Park, Sabah, serving as a reminder that environmental care is not a single act, but a promise sustained over time.”
Sabin added that this year’s programme carried added significance as it was held at the Atkinson Clock Tower, one of the city’s oldest surviving landmarks.
Built in 1905, he said the clock tower has stood witness to Kota Kinabalu’s growth and development.
“Heritage, when protected, gives a city its soul,” he said.
Sabin and the two beauty queens later joined other guests in planting trees at the event.
