KUCHING: Local youth and college students are urged to cultivate environmental awareness through recycling and gotong-royong (community clean-up) programmes.
Deputy Minister in the Premier’s Department (Law, MA63 and State-Federal Relations) and Samariang state assemblywoman, Datuk Sharifah Hasidah Sayeed Aman Ghazali, highlighted today’s ‘Gotong-Royong Perdana 2026 for Kejiranan Mesra (KJM) N7 Samariang’ event as an example of an effective programme that should be organised regularly.
She added that such initiatives play an important role in shaping positive habits while fostering collective responsibility in caring for the environment.
“It is vital for young people, including college students, to develop awareness and take an active role in caring for the environment.
“As we grow, understanding the importance of protecting our surroundings becomes essential, and initiatives like recycling and gotong-royong programmes play a key role,” she said.
She said this in her speech when officiating the programme held at the grounds of Masjid Darul Muslimin, Kampung Sungai Bedil Besar today (Feb 7).
Sharifah Hasidah added that gotong-royong should be organised regularly at the village level, as it encourages local residents to work together in cleaning their surroundings, practising positive daily habits and sustainable community.
“If possible, we should make this part of our daily lives by embracing a recycling lifestyle.
“This is important for the well-being and sustainability of our environment. If we look at Sarawak’s direction under the PCDS 2030, one of the state’s main agendas is to ensure that while Sarawak continues to develop rapidly and prosper, we also protect the environment,” she added.
She also expressed her appreciation to Kuching North City Commission (DBKU) and Friendly Neighbourhood (KJM) for organising the programme and and competitions, where local residents and students collect as much waste as possible, especially plastics and paper, for recycling.
“I hope that we will always maintain the cleanliness of our village. Gotong-royong programmes can also be implemented at the grassroots level to ensure our villages remain clean at all times,” she stressed.
Around 150 residents of Kampung Sungai Bedil Besar participated on the event, alongside 30 students each from i-CATS College University and SIDMA College Sarawak, who were invited as volunteers.
A total of 403.04 kilogrammes of waste was collected.
Also present were DBKU Mayor, Datuk Hilmy Othman; DBKU Director, Ramzi Abdillah; Kampung Sungai Bedil village head, Ghani Abone; Kampung Sungai Bedil village chief, Daud Majidi; and Friendly Neighbourhood (KJM) N7 Samariang deputy chairwoman, Salmah Ahar, along with other KJM members.
