Contest draws attention to plight of sharks
KUALA LUMPUR: To raise awareness and reduce the consumption of sharks and shark fins, Shark Savers Malaysia has organised a drawing competition with the theme “Be A Shark Hero”.
Art and craft teacher Carmen Pang, who won the Professional Group Category, believes awareness should start at a young age.
Her artwork is of a young boy holding a flag that states “Save Shark” while riding on a shark.
The 25-year-old teacher from Seremban said awareness would be effective only if children were taught from young.
Jessica Lee Hew Thung, a contestant in the Student Category, has her mother to thank for her win.
“She coaxed me to join the competition after reading it in the newspaper,” said the 16-year-old.
Hew Thung from Kampar, Perak, said she loved to draw.
“It was examination time, so I came up with an idea in one night to make everyone see sharks in a friendlier light,” she said.
“I drew many flags from different countries as I want people to know this is a worldwide mission.”
Shark Savers is a non-profit initiative dedicated to saving sharks through grassroots action.
Its president Abner Yap said the project was to use visuals as the means to educate and convey messages to the public.
“We can change the world by not harming. We are all in this together,” said Yap who has been with the project since 2015.
Malaysian Institute of Art (MIA) board of governors’ Datuk Wong Pui Nam praised the group for its efforts in protecting the fish.
“When the buying stops, the killing stops too,” he said at the awards presentation yesterday.
The competition received 73 entries. They will be exhibited until Sept 29 at the MIA City Campus, near the Dang Wangi LRT station.