SANDAKAN: Over half a tonne of garbage was collected from the garbage trap net that was installed in Kampung Sim-Sim since last June.
The 150-metre long garbage trap net on the left side of Bridge H is one of the Sandakan Parliament’s initiatives to reduce garbage in tourist hotspots by leveraging funds from the Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing.
The installation was led by Future Alam Borneo (FAB), an environmental non-governmental organisation (NGO) that has long been active in implementing various environmental awareness programmes for residents around Kampung Sim-Sim.
It was made in collaboration with a teacher and her four students from SM Sung Siew who named their group “The Purest” last May.
This garbage trap net project was also helped by the local community who donated hundreds of used 1.5 litre mineral water bottles.
A second garbage trap net measuring 130 metres long was installed at Bridge E Kampung Sim-Sim on Monday.
Sandakan MP Vivian Wong was also present to see the installation of garbage trap net carried out by FAB and The Purest team.
Vivian called on local residents to cooperate, monitor each other and be responsible in managing their respective waste.
“If anyone is seen throwing garbage into the sea, they need to be stopped immediately and given education and advice to protect the cleanliness of the environment together.
“The effort to make Kampung Sim-Sim garbage-free is an ongoing effort and necessarily requires the cooperation of the villagers themselves,” she said.
In addition, Vivian also appreciated the efforts of FAB and The Purest groups for their contribution to the community by participating in the process of manufacturing and installing garbage trap nets.
At the same time, she also called for more support from other non-governmental organisations to participate in the effort to preserve Sandakan and contribute to the Kampung Sim-Sim cleaning project.
