Environment cleanliness is not just the responsibility of governments, local municipal councils, and organisations; it is also the responsibility of each and everyone of us citizens who care for a clean and heathier environment, stressed Datuk Mohd. Ridhwan bin Mohd. Ali, the Chairman of the World Youth Foundation (WYF). “That is why we at WYF had taken the initiative to have the Let’s Recycle Plastic Bottle [Jom Kitar Semula Botol Plastik] Programme in conjunction with the Melaka State Government’s festive Hari Raya Aidilfitri Open House Event,” he said.
WYF Chairman Datuk Mohd. Ridhwan bin Mohd. Ali [right] launching the Let’s Recycle Plastic Bottle campaign at MITC, Ayer Keroh, Melaka.
A total of 114 kilogram of used plastic bottles were collected and placed inside a huge wire-mashed container in the form of a bottle called a roro. The event was held at the Melaka International Trade Centre (MITC) in Ayer Keroh, Melaka on Saturday, 28th March, 2026. Various WYF’s volunteer groups participated in the event. “I would like to express my heartfelt thanks to the State Government of Melaka for its support towards this initiative. My sincere gratitude also go out to the various volunteer groups like the Boy Scouts Association of Malaysia, Melaka (Persatuan Pengakap Malaysia Negeri Melaka), the Lions Club of HTJ, Melaka, and strategic partners such as SW Corp, SWM Environment, MITC Corp, including hotel staff such as those from The Dusit Princess Hotel and Hatten Hotel in Melaka,” said Datuk Mohd Ridhwan.
Participants of the Let’s Recycle Plastic Bottle campaign at MITC, Ayer Keroh, Melaka.
“This is is one sure way whereby we can inculcate awareness especially amongst our younger generation towards the importance of keeping our environment clean and free from plastic clutter. Imagine going to the beach, riverside, or walking through our parks and having to see the environment strewn with plastic waste such as plastic bottles and plastic cuttlery. These are ugly sights to behold and it is not good for the image of our country especially Melaka which is a world- renowned tourist destination,” reminded Datuk Mohd. Ridhwan.
The World Youth Foundation (WYF), which is based in the historical UNESCO-proclaimed city and state of Melaka in Malaysia, is a non-profit organisation which is in a Special Consultative Status with Economic and Social Council of the United Nations aligned to the U.N.’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) structure.
Meanwhile, Secretary-General of the WYF and Let’s Recycle Plastic Bottle Programme Director, Dato’ Norsabrina Mohd. Nor reiterated that the public should always dispose plastic properly and not strew them all over the place. Re-cyling is important. It only works if we take responsibility to throw our plastic waste (and other wastes as well) correctly. If we cannot find a rubbish bin in sight, then tie our plastic waste in a plastic bag, carry the bag with us and find a proper dumpster to properly throw it in. Better still, we should sort the waste into plastic, paper and glass and dispose them correctly. Many countries have found ways to recycle waste. Some have even utilise waste as an important clean energy generating resource, she revealed.
“So, please encourage your friends, your family members and your community to care about environmental cleanliness and say no to plastic pollution. Small actions on our part, when done together, create big impact and big changes. Let us take small important steps today. Let us re-cycle plastic and re-use whatever we can. Together, we can protect our environment and create a cleaner, healthier, pollution-free environment for the betterment of our future generation,” she stressed.
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