Selangor: Clean Thaipusam, a non-governmental organisation, has expanded its Thaipusam festival cleanliness and sustainability drive to six states, involving about 600 volunteers. Its founder JK Wicky said the campaign, which began in 2019 with just around 20 volunteers, has grown significantly, thanks to the support of the public, temple management, and corporate sponsors through corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, JK Wicky emphasized that Thaipusam is a festival celebrated by the Indian community but also attracts devotees and visitors from various racial backgrounds. He stressed the importance of maintaining cleanliness and responsibly disposing of waste as a shared cultural value. During this year's Thaipusam on February 1, Clean Thaipusam will conduct operations in Selangor, including Batu Caves, as well as in Penang, Sungai Petani (Kedah), Ipoh (Perak), Merlimau (Melaka), and Masai (Johor), focusing on waste management, separation of recyclables, and temporary bin placement in key areas.

The recycling initiative this year has been expanded to focus on the separation of plastic bottles. Additionally, a fruit bank has been established to collect excess fruit offerings for redistribution or ethical use, ensuring no waste. Last year, about 320 kg of plastic waste were successfully collected and recycled, though the overall amount of garbage generated during the festival remained high.

Meanwhile, the trustee of the Sri Maha Mariamman Devasthanam Temple, Datuk N. Sivakumar, highlighted the ongoing issue of footwear disposal at the festival site. Approximately three tonnes of footwear are discarded each year, underscoring the urgent need for greater public awareness. He urged devotees and visitors to utilize the provided facilities and dispose of slippers or personal belongings properly.