IN conjunction with Earth Day, a group of Malaysian youth volunteers joined forces to clean up Long Beach (Pasir Panjang) near Kuching, highlighting the power of community-led action in preserving the country’s natural beauty.
Celebrated globally on April 22, Earth Day serves as a reminder of the urgent need to protect our planet from pollution, climate change, and environmental degradation.
It is a day when individuals, communities and organisations around the world take part in green initiatives to demonstrate their commitment to sustainability.
Hosting a beach clean-up on this day adds deeper meaning, as it symbolises the shared responsibility of all people — especially youth — to be stewards of the Earth.
The initiative, spearheaded by HWPL Malaysia (Heavenly Culture, World Peace, Restoration of Light), brought together youth volunteers who spent their Saturday morning removing unsightly litter from the shoreline. In just a few hours, the team collected waste including plastic bottles, food wrappers, and other non-biodegradable materials that threaten marine ecosystems and the coastal environment.
“Malaysia’s beaches are treasures that must be protected. Through acti- vities like this, we hope to inspire more young people to care for our environment,” said a representative from HWPL Malaysia. The clean-up not only contributed to the upkeep of one of Sarawak’s beloved beach destinations but also promoted environmental awareness and responsibility among youth from diverse backgrounds.
Mohamad Nasib, the manager of Long Beach, shared, “Many people come here, and what we often see is rubbish — plastic, motor parts, and so on. Even though we’ve provided rubbish bins, I feel it’s still not enough because there are just too many visitors. We are grateful and welcome more organisations to come and do beach clean-ups here — just let us know in advance so we can coordinate and avoid any clashes.”
This grassroots initiative underscores HWPL Malaysia’s commitment to nurturing civic-minded youth who take ownership of their communities. The organisation believes that small acts, when multiplied by many, can lead to significant positive change.
HWPL (Heavenly Culture, World Peace, Restoration of Light) is an international NGO focused on peacebuilding through dialogue, education, and volunteerism. In Malaysia, HWPL works closely with youth, faith groups, and civil society to promote a culture of peace, unity and sustainability.
For media inquiries or partnership opportunities, please contact hwplmalaysia@gmail.com.
