(From left) Insp Adi, Komander So, Rajendran, MBPP councillors Rohaizat, Chen and Zuraida Mohd Arshad along with Mohamad Azhar with the rubbish collected. — Courtesy photos
SOME 200 volunteers managed to collect 728kg of rubbish washed ashore on Pulau Gazumbo and Pulau Jerejak in Penang.
Their haul was part of the Island Cleanup Day 2024 programme held by Penang Island City Council (MBPP) to raise environmental awareness.
The volunteers were from KD Sri Pinang navy reserve unit training centre, Penang Chinese Chamber of Commerce (PCCC), Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM) campus in Bertam, Puspanita, Amalgamated National Union of Local Authorities Employees (Anulae) and MBPP.
Heading out on five boats from the Penang marine police jetty at Lintang Bayan Mutiara, it took them about three hours to clear the areas of rubbish.
MBPP mayor Datuk A. Rajendran said 60% or 438kg of the waste collected on both islands were single-use plastics while 140kg comprised aluminium, tin and glass.
Another 150kg comprised non-recyclable rubbish such as polystyrene foam.
“This marked a reduction in the rubbish collected during a similar cleanup programme that was held by the council on June 30 that saw a haul of 1,255kg of waste, with 86% of it being single-use plastics.
Volunteers picking up rubbish during the cleanup exercise at Pulau Gazumbo and Pulau Jerejak. (Below) Plastic bottles found littering both the islands.
“This goes to show that we are still not disposing of plastics in the proper way.
“We also want to continue reminding people that waste dumped in the open poses a threat to the environment as well as marine life.
“Everyone of us should care for the environment,” he said in his speech.
Rajendran added that MBPP, through the efforts of its councillors, had set up 22 recycling stations on the island.
This aims to educate the public on proper disposal methods.
MBPP councillor Rohaizat Hamid said the programme, initiated before the Covid-19 pandemic, has been held annually since 2022.
“The rubbish that is washed ashore on these two islands is not only from Penang island but also from the mainland.
“Our beaches and islands are our priceless treasures.
“We must take the initiative to protect them.
“The council is serious in its efforts to protect our environment and such programmes are not a one-time effort,” he said.
Also present at the event were KD Sri Pinang commanding officer Komander So Lea Kun, Insp Adi Saufi who represented Pulau Pinang marine police Region One commander Asst Comm Rusley Che Ari, MBPP councillor and PCCC representative David Chen Wooi Teong, UiTM Bertam assistant rector Dr Mohamad Azhar Mohd Noor and Anulae Penang president Mohd Hanif Abdul Hamid.
Pulau Gazumbo, located next to Penang Bridge, was formed from sand buildups when the bridge was being constructed from 1983 to 1986.
Over the years, the 3ha man-made island has become an eyesore as large amounts of waste washed ashore.
The island was also in the news when 12 dogs were previously found abandoned on the island.
Several MBPP councillors had gone to the island to rescue the dogs but the animals proved hard to catch and the councillors returned empty-handed.
