Curtin Malaysia takes the lead in beach cleaning and preserving the environment

Miri – 24 May 2023 – Students and staff of the School of Pre-U and Continuing Education (SPACE) at Curtin University Malaysia (Curtin Malaysia) recently undertook a beach cleaning event at Lutong Beach about 10 kilometres from its campus.

45 students and 12 lecturers from SPACE’s foundation and diploma programmes were joined by staff from Miri City Council, Sarawak Energy Berhad and Petronas in the effort. Event support was provided by  Champion Badminton Court & Pro Shop and the Miri City Council.

According to event organiser Siti Kasmah Binti Mohamad Kassim, the event was aimed at promoting environmental awareness and community engagement among Mirians, in addition to keeping Lutong Beach relatively clean and free of debris for the public who frequent it for sightseeing and recreation, especially on weekends.

“Recognising the importance of preserving the delicate ecosystem, we took the initiative to organise this beach cleaning activity. We managed to mobilise quite a large group of students and lecturers, and welcomed volunteers from other organisations to join the effort,” said Siti Kasmah.

Fellow lecturer Hanley Fong, meanwhile, remarked that the effort not only resulted in a cleaner and safer environment for both humans and marine life, it conveyed a powerful message about the importance of responsible waste management, and protection of aquatic life in accordance to the 14th United Nations Sustainable Development Goal: Life Below Water.

Officiating the launch of the beach cleaning was Deputy Mayor of Miri Haji Ariffin Bin Mohamad, who is also a lecturer in Curtin Malaysia’s Faculty of Humanities and Health Sciences.

At the end of the event, it was announced that a total of 622.44 kilograms of waste was collected, and the team from Curtin Malaysia collected the most.

In her closing remarks, Siti Kasmah thanked all the participants for their efforts and congratulated the Curtin Malaysia team for collecting the most waste, saying that it was a testament to the students and lecturers’ passion and concern for the environment.

“Your achievement reinforces Curtin Malaysia’s commitment to environmental stewardship. We at SPACE hope to continue our efforts in preserving the beauty of our coastal ecosystems, and together with others in the community, create a sustainable future for generations to come,” she said.

SPACE was established in 2021 with the aim of creating educational and training opportunities for youth so that they can unlock their potential, including foundation and diploma pathways to undergraduate study at Curtin Malaysia and the other Curtin campuses in Australia, Singapore, Dubai, Mauritius and Sri Lanka.

SPACE also provides professional education for working adults, including corporate training, short courses, and micro-credentials, to enable them to upskill and take their careers to the next level.

To find out more about SPACE, visit its website at cmspace.curtin.edu.my, or send an email to cm.space@curtin.edu.my.

For more information on Curtin Malaysia, visit www.curtin.edu.my or look for Curtin Malaysia on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, LinkedIn or TikTok.

The team of students and lecturers from Curtin Malaysia

Loading up the substantial amount of waste onto lorries

Deputy Mayor Haji Ariffin Bin Mohamad addressing the participants

Event organiser Siti Kasmah Binti Mohamad Kassim giving her speech

Group photo of all the participants who took part in the beach cleaning