Campaign to clean up Tanjung Aru village
KOTA KINABALU: The Sabah Environmental Friendly Association has started a six-month Community Services Program to improve cleanliness of the environment around Kampung Lama Tanjung Aru.
Sixteen tons of rubbish were collected in the morning with this effort.
According to the event’s organizing chairperson, Ann Ainie Jamin, this program, joining forces with a local recycle company, will buy recyclable materials from among the rubbish collected by the villagers.
“The more important aspect that we want to teach our youngsters is that these rubbish are actually a resource rather than a burden. They will also learn to keep their home nice and clean by picking up rubbish and getting paid. Thus in this way they can spend their energy in more productive ways,” she added.
“With this motivation, this gotongroyong method will be sustainable, in comparison to the commonly annual gotong-royong events which are widespread, but only yield limited result. We will continue it as a weekly activity for the next six months,” Ann told the press after the launching ceremony of the program.
Yesterday’s event, partly sponsored by Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP), attracted 220 villagers and volunteers from around Sabah.
SAPP secretary general Datuk Richard Yong We Kong said the party will always support NGOs with genuine intention to serve their respective communities.
“I also suggest for them to further boost the motivation by giving award to the cleanest house as a periodical contest, to promote self-aware cleaning,” he said.
Meanwhile, Richard was told by the villagers that the concrete jetty at Kampung Lama Tanjung Aru which was built on a huge budget, has not been maintained.
“This is a very strategic location with friendly villagers, to be developed further into a tourist destination,” he added.
Richard promised that if Gabungan Sabah were to become the State government, there will surely be an allocation to improve this jetty, to create business opportunities for the villagers.
Earlier during the event, a talk was given by Dr Norshahida Md Taib of Sabah Health Department on environment cleanliness which also touched on the recent 12 dengue cases reported in the area.