SANDAKAN: Karamunting Community Development Leader (PPM) Yap Hsiu Min recently led his team in a gotong-royong cleanup operation along the shores of Kampung Pukat, where they successfully collected approximately 100 kilogrammes of plastic bottles in just a few hours.
Yap said the sheer volume of waste gathered underscored the worsening state of marine pollution in the area, stressing that environmental protection is an urgent priority that demands effective short- and long-term planning to tackle the years-old buildup of trash along the coastline.
He explained that the problem is notoriously difficult to eradicate completely due to the geography of nearby small islands and villages. Every time the tide turns, ocean currents sweep vast amounts of marine debris into stagnant coastal pockets, where it piles up relentlessly. Beyond the externally drifted refuse, she also highlighted the indiscriminate littering habits of certain locals as a key driver of the pollution.
The initiative was organised following prior consultations with the Kampung Pukat Village Security and Development Committee (JKKK), with the goal of improving the coastal environment through tangible on-the-ground action. Yap noted that the massive piles of plastic bottles not only blight the scenic views but also produce foul odours that pose health risks and degrade the quality of life for local residents.
While acknowledging that his service team’s resources are finite, Yap expressed hope that the Sandakan Municipal Council, the People’s Volunteer Corps (RELA), and other relevant agencies would join forces in future to ensure the success of broader environmental rehabilitation in Sandakan. Alongside the 100kg of plastic bottles, the team also cleared away biscuit tins, damaged household items, discarded clothing, and snack wrappers—all testament to human-generated marine pollution.
Yap urged the public to step up their environmental awareness, starting with their own daily habits, and to instill responsible waste-disposal practices in the younger generation from an early age. He expressed hope that this modest initiative would serve as a catalyst to spur greater community participation in conservation and foster a collective sense of responsibility for preserving a clean, healthy living environment. -James Leong
Yap inspects the Kampung Pukat shores during the recent clean-up drive.
