Kuala lumpur: About one tonne of waste was collected in the ‘Earth Clean Challenge’ at Kampung Pangkalan Laut here yesterday, which drew over 100 volunteers, including tahfiz students, members of Sahabat Yayasan Pembangunan Malaysia (YPM) and local residents. The community clean-up campaign was organised by Ma’haad Tahfiz Ashabul Yamin and sponsored by Lahad Datu Parliamentary TVET Coordinator Datuk Seri Anil Sandhu.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Anil said the initiative supports three Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), namely SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation), SDG 13 (Climate Action) and SDG 14 (Life Below Water), to strengthen public awareness of the importance of cleanliness and environmental conservation. He emphasized that the involvement of various community groups, including non-governmental organisations (NGOs), reflected a strong spirit of volunteerism for collective well-being.

Anil highlighted the village’s long-standing issue with the lack of a proper drainage system, stating that cleanliness extends beyond mere gotong-royong activities to encompass moral and social responsibility. He remarked, ‘When our village is clean, our minds are also clear and that’s the starting point for greater change in society,’ during an interview with Bernama.

Further urging involvement, Anil called on more NGOs and the public to engage in community clean-up efforts, emphasizing the shared responsibility in protecting the environment. ‘If our surroundings are not clean, how can we live healthily and breathe fresh air? I challenge the other NGOs and communities to come forward and help clean up areas affected by pollution,’ he stated.

He added that the campaign not only helped beautify the fishing village but also aimed to spark wider civic awareness in Kunak on maintaining cleanliness and community well-being.