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Mayor Wee urges collective action for sustainability at MBKS Environment Day
A group photo taken during the Eco Glam Fashion Face-Off competition held in conjunction with the MBKS 2025 Environment Day.
KUCHING (June 14): Kuching South Mayor Dato Wee Hong Seng has called for collective and proactive efforts to preserve the environment in pursuit of a sustainable and prosperous future for generations to come.
He said achieving this common goal requires close collaboration between the government, private sector, non-governmental organisations (NGOs), and the wider community.
'World Environment Day, celebrated on June 5 every year, is not just a symbolic date, but a call for all of us to act. It reminds us that the dream of a sustainable future can only be achieved if all parties work together at all levels.
'This is not a time to just talk, we need to act to realise that dream,' he said when launching the MBKS 2025 Environment Day themed 'Trash to Hope' held at the MBKS Dewan Masyarakat here today.
Wee urged the public to move beyond indifference and take real action to protect the environment, stressing the need for a mindset shift.
'From dumping (waste) to recycling, from not caring to acting,' he enthused.
The mayor said MBKS has lined up a series of activities for the celebration, including the Eco Glam Fashion Face-Off, a competition for preschool and primary school children.
He added that the competition was initiated by the MBKS Children's Council in support of the Child Friendly Cities Initiative (CFCI) undertaken by the United Nations Children's Fund (Unicef).
'A total of 24 participants aged between four and 12 took part in this competition, which not only fosters creativity but also instills awareness of recycling from a young age.'
In addition, Wee said the community also had the chance to visit the Kuching Natural Farmer Market, with 31 stalls set up in the vicinity of the MBKS building, offering fresh agricultural produce, handmade products, plants and environmental-friendly goods.
He said the market, which was inaugurated last year, is held twice a month to promote agricultural products that do not use chemical fertilisers and pesticides.
He added that the council also collaborates with the Kuching Food Aid in organising a food donation programme to help the needy communities in and around the city.
Wee also expressed appreciation to the creative group Naked Wonder, which has been working with MBKS since 2023 to promote environmental sustainability.
Among their joint initiatives is the creation of 'The Turtle in the Ocean', the largest straw art installation in Malaysia, which was recognised by the Malaysia Book of Records.
'This artwork not only proves that recycled waste can be turned into something beautiful, but also plays an important role in raising public awareness about the importance of caring for the environment,' Wee added. environmental sustainability wee hong seng World Environment Day
