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KOTA KINABALU: JCI Tanjung Aru held its first plastic awareness talk and drawing contest on the theme “Microplastic Monsters” at SK(C) Anglo Chinese Primary Schoo. 

Attended by over 1,500 children aged seven to 12, the event was supported by the Dewan Bandaraya Kota Kinabalu (DBKK) Solid Waste Department and sponsored by CCS Percetakan Sdn Bhd and Tupperware.

The programme began with Jecky Jarimal from DBKK introducing the “No-Plastic Campaign,” which has been in effect in Kota Kinabalu since Aug 1, 2024. 

He also highlighted the current plastic waste issues in Sabah, using photos of local beaches and landfills to emphasise the problem.

Following this, Yuki Yong, Organising Chairperson of JCI Tanjung Aru’s Merdeka for Mereka 2.0 project, delivered a presentation on “What Are Microplastics”. 

The talk included interactive activities and interesting slides to explain the environmental and health impacts of microplastics from single-use plastic products.

Meanwhile, JCI Tanjung Aru also hosted its second drug awareness talk titled “Your Life, Your Choice: Say NO to Drugs” at SM Maktab Sabah last Friday (9 Aug). 

The event was supported by Penampang Police Narcotics Division and the Kota Kinabalu National Anti-Drugs Agency (AADK). 

Over 700 students and teachers attended, marking the event as a significant success.

The programme commenced with ASP Amir Arshad sharing on what are, the types of and the consequences of drugs. The session aimed to educate and empower teenagers to make informed choices about drug use.

Following this, Ramsia from AADK delivered a pocket talk to create awareness on abuse of drugs among teenagers and also where and how to seek help when needed. 

The event later ended with showcasing of drugs via dummies to allow students to better differentiate to avoid future drug use.

Both programmes are a part of the Merdeka for Mereka 2.0 project, a community initiative dedicated to giving back to society and addressing pressing issues in Sabah. 

Yuki Yong, the organizing chairperson of Merdeka for Mereka 2.0, and Amanda Yong, the 2024 president of JCI Tanjung Aru, organised the events in response to the alarming rise in drug abuse cases among teenagers and to address the plastic waste crisis in Sabah.