Herald Malaysia
PORT DICKSON – A total of 190 volunteers from the Archdiocese of Kuala Lumpur took part in Hari Cuci Malaysia, a nationwide clean-up initiative organised by the Ministry of Housing and Local Government (KPKT), together with several partners. The event at Pantai Cahaya Negeri, Port Dickson, was held in conjunction with the Season of Creation, and saw enthusiastic participation from people of all ages and backgrounds.
The Archdiocesan Creation Justice Ministry (CJM) collaborated with the Archdiocesan Office for Human Development (AOHD) to coordinate the group, which travelled to the beach in three buses. Among the volunteers were parishioners from different churches, individuals from other faiths, and 40 students from Montfort School accompanied by their teachers.
Hari Cuci Malaysia was part of a national effort that mobilised thousands of Malaysians to clean up parks, housing areas, beaches, and public spaces. At Pantai Cahaya Negeri, the atmosphere was vibrant and festive — with music, dance, banners, and educational booths set up by organisations such as AOHD, Upcycle, Tzu Chi, Nestlé, and ReConnect. Each booth highlighted ongoing efforts to promote environmental sustainability and community responsibility.
Following a short briefing, volunteers donned gloves and armed themselves with pickers, forming small teams to collect waste along the beach. The rhythmic sounds of the waves and rustling trees accompanied their efforts as they gathered plastic bottles, candy wrappers, batteries, cigarette butts, bottle caps, and other litter, sorting them into labelled bags for recycling or disposal. The experience fostered camaraderie, joy, and a renewed sense of stewardship for God’s creation.
After the clean-up, some participants enjoyed a brief water play before lunch, while others took photographs to commemorate the event. Media representatives were also present, and several young volunteers proudly shared their reflections in interviews with TV3’s Malaysia Hari Ini, marking a memorable moment of faith-driven action for the environment.
The event achieved two new records in the Malaysia Book of Records (MBOR):
Record 1: Largest Gotong-Royong with 100,817 participants across 181 locations nationwide.
Record 2: Most Used Cooking Oil Collected — 27,679.31 kg from 10 states, valued at RM79,684.56.
Overall, 6,452 metric tonnes of waste — including plastic, paper, and textiles — were collected across the country. This year’s participation far exceeded that of 2024, which recorded 58,007 volunteers.
The Archdiocese extends its heartfelt gratitude to all who contributed to this meaningful effort. As we continue our journey through the Season of Creation themed Peace with Creation, may our shared actions inspire others to care for our common home and live in harmony with all of God’s creation. – Herald Malaysia
