Students helping clean the streets around Wisma Eagle Eye.
KUALA Lumpur is working towards becoming a city with minimal waste next year in conjunction with Malaysia’s Asean chairmanship.
Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) Health and Environment Department director Dr Ummi Ahmad said it was important for residents to start recycling to reduce pollution caused by excessive waste, especially plastics.
She emphasised that this effort was especially crucial among youths.
“You are the generation that will live in the future world.
“So, you have the responsibility to make sure that Malaysia is clean by recycling and reducing waste.
“As youths, you also have a lot of energy to come up with innovative ideas to help protect the environment,” she said during the closing ceremony of the “Go Clean KL” programme at Wisma Eagle Eye in Kuala Lumpur.
(Holding banner, from second, left) Moorthy, Ummi, Poon and GIC students at the closing ceremony. — Photos: CHAN TAK KONG and LEW GUAN XI/The Star
Ummi added that details of the zero-waste city plans would be announced by Kuala Lumpur mayor Datuk Seri Maimunah Mohd Sharif.
The inaugural event, jointly organised by Goon International College (GIC) and non-governmental organisation Pertubuhan Pemuliharaan Nilai Estetika Kuala Lumpur (PPNEKL), was attended by around 180 students from the college.
They cleaned the streets around Wisma Eagle Eye, including Lebuh Pudu, Jalan Petaling and Jalan Tun HS Lee.
Ummi said the programme should be continued, as maintaining cleanliness was not a short-term issue.
“Some still litter even when rubbish bins are available.
“Therefore, it is important that you as students bring this positive attitude you have today to wherever you go to protect our environment.
“We also need more sustainability-focused NGOs to work with us,” she said.
Also present were GIC chief executive officer Dr Moorthy Seelan Perumal and PPNEKL president Datuk Ada Poon.
Moorthy said he was impressed by the programme’s participation rate.
He felt that the programme allowed students to raise their concerns about the environment.
“It also enhanced relationships between students,” he said.
Meanwhile, Poon said the programme was a collaborative effort between PPNEKL and GIC to clean up the surrounding area.
“This is a good start. We call for more NGOs and government agencies to step forward and maintain our city’s cleanliness,” she said.
She also raised concerns about the distribution of food to the homeless around the area, claiming that it could cause hygiene problems, which in turn could affect businesses there.
“The waste generated from the food residue will negatively impact the area, which is a tourist spot.
“The authorities have designated places for NGOs or charity organisations to distribute food and daily essentials for the homeless community.
“It is important for them to follow this,” she said.
Among places offering homeless services in Kuala Lumpur are Anjung Singgah in Jalan Hang Lekiu, Medan Tuanku Homeless Service Centre in Chow Kit, Anjung Kembara in Jalan Pahang and Chow Kit Community Learning Centre.
