Kuala terengganu: NRES deputy secretary-general for Environmental Sustainability, Datuk Nor Yahati Awang, has highlighted projections indicating that the world will face 230 million metric tonnes of plastic waste by 2040. Approximately 23 million tonnes of this waste are expected to end up in waterways annually, posing a threat to marine ecosystems.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, Nor Yahati outlined NRES's strategies to combat this issue, including the implementation of a uniform monitoring framework through coastal clean-up initiatives. These efforts aim to enhance marine waste management and involve activities such as systematic data collection and monitoring, which are crucial for evidence-based policy formulation and fulfilling international obligations under SDG 14: Life Below Water.
Her remarks were conveyed by NRES deputy secretary of Natural Resource Management Division, Azrina Mohd Said, during the closing ceremony of the 2026 National Citizen Science Programme at Tanjung Gelam Beach. The event also saw the participation of Universiti Malaysia Terengganu (UMT) deputy vice-chancellor for Research and Innovation, Prof Dr Muhammad Ikhwanuddin Abdullah.
Nor Yahati emphasized the importance of integrating beach clean-up activities with scientific monitoring, waste classification, and data collection, as recommended by The Coordinating Body on the Seas of East Asia (COBSEA). The aim is to protect marine ecosystems and resources for future generations.
Meanwhile, Prof Dr Muhammad Ikhwanuddin reported that over 100 participants collected 165 kilogrammes of waste in less than two hours during the clean-up. The collaboration between UMT, NRES, and the Geng Plastik Ija association focused on marine debris collection and sorting to understand its impact on coastal ecosystems.
The data collected will support future research and environmental management planning by identifying waste types, volumes, and distribution along coastlines. Participants, including students and local community members, also received education on marine waste classification and the importance of reducing plastic use to protect coastal areas like Kampung Tanjung Gelam, chosen for its recreational and ecological significance.