SEMPORNA: Over 20 tonnes of waste was collected in a clean-up effort on Mabul Island, renowned for its world-class diving sites.
Under a district-level campaign launched earlier this year, the community led by village head Yusuf Jalal have shown a remarkable commitment to cleaning the island.
In March, over 1,000 islanders participated in a comprehensive clean-up effort, removing more than 10,000 kilogrammes of debris. A subsequent clean-up in June yielded another 8,000 kilogrammes of waste.
Last Saturday marked the third phase of the initiative, with an additional 5,000 kilogrammes collected, bringing the total to over 20,000 kilogrammes.
"This effort is a collective effort by everyone in this village who aims to see a better and cleaner Mabul.
"We have reminded our islanders that Mabul has been many times labelled as a dirty island despite having world-level diving sites.
"Therefore, we want to ensure that our beaches are cleaner than before" said Yusuf.
Yusuf highlighted collaboration with government agencies, including the district office, and expressed gratitude for technical support from Reef Check Malaysia.
"We hope that the government will consider establishing a waste management system, which will greatly help us prevent more trash from being thrown into the sea and polluting our beaches," he said.
Yusuf also said more resources were needed to conduct regular clean-ups, noting the costs involved in materials and transportation.
Adzmin Fatta, programme manager of Reef Check Malaysia, commended the villagers' dedication and the leadership of Yusuf.
"I have witnessed great cooperation among the islanders, especially the village leadership.
"We will continue to work with the village committee and the islanders and provide our support whenever we can," he said.