Latest news with #Adzmin
The Star
7 days ago
- General
- The Star
Turning the tide in Semporna
Building a better world: Members of the community unloading waste at the Semporna jetty after a collection drive on Mabul Island; and (bottom) Adzmin giving a talk on marine pollution and waste awareness to school students in Semporna. SEMPORNA: In the resort island of Mabul, tourists come and go but the trash stays. Located off Sabah's east coast, Mabul is famed for its marine biodiversity and proximity to Sipadan Island, drawing divers from around the world. But behind the postcard-perfect scenery lies a village of about 3,800 residents, many lacking access to basic infrastructure, including waste collection. Semporna, the coastal town that serves as a gateway to Mabul and other islands, has seen booming tourism. Yet its island communities remain sidelined from development plans. For years, waste disposal on Mabul meant dumping into the sea. But Adzmin Fatta, a 32-year-old local environmentalist, knew it didn't have to stay that way. Adzmin Fatta giving a talk on marine pollution and waste awareness to school students in Semporna as part of Reef Check Malaysia's community education outreach. Adzmin, born and raised in Semporna, is the community coordinator for Reef Check Malaysia and co-founder of Green Semporna. He has spent over a decade working on coral conservation and grassroots environmental work. The fifth of seven siblings lost his father at five. He didn't grow up speaking fluent English but picked it up after school through sheer determination. His journey into environmental work began when he won a public speaking competition during STPM and was immediately offered a job with WWF. 'That was the start of everything,' he said in an interview. Today, Adzmin works directly with villagers on waste management and conservation, focusing mainly on community ownership. 'People often blame the community for the trash but they forget how isolated these islands are. 'It's not that they don't care. They just don't have the system we have in urban areas. 'People keep talking about spreading awareness but they are aware. They just don't have a choice,' he said. In 2023, after national attention on Mabul's worsening waste problem, Adzmin was appointed to the Semporna district's technical committee. Instead of top-down solutions, he mobilised residents to form a cleanliness committee. Within six months, over 70 tonnes of waste were collected and transported to the mainland. 'It showed that if you give the community the chance and support, they'll rise to it.' Before Mabul, Adzmin led waste management systems on other islands. On Mantanani Islands, his team works with 140 households, preventing over 145,000kg of waste from polluting the ocean since 2018. A scorecard system rewarded 47 households with 'Excellence Certificates' in 2022. Similar programmes followed in Larapan (2022–2024) and Selakan (2024–ongoing) in Semporna, each adapted to local needs. 'These aren't flashy projects. They rely on long-term trust,' he said. Now, he's training young leaders to take over community projects, so he can support new areas. 'You don't need to be perfect. You just need to care and be consistent. That's how change starts.' Still, Adzmin admits the work is tough. 'If I had a choice, I'd just eat, sleep and heal. 'But seeing the community's commitment keeps me going.' He believes waste systems aren't just about hygiene. They are key to fighting marine pollution and biodiversity loss. 'The cost of biodiversity loss is far greater than the cost of basic waste systems. We all have a stake in this.' Meanwhile, the Star Golden Hearts Award (SGHA) returns for the 11th edition to honour everyday Malaysians whose compassion and selflessness have made a lasting impact on others. With McDonald's Malaysia as the new strategic partner, SGHA is poised to broaden its reach and deepen its impact nationwide. This year also marks the debut of the McDonald's Caring Hearts Award – a special recognition honouring individuals or grassroots groups whose heartfelt acts of kindness have uplifted lives in profound and lasting ways. Since its inception in 2015, SGHA has honoured over 100 individuals and organisations whose efforts have inspired action, transformed lives and strengthened communities nationwide.
Borneo Post
07-06-2025
- General
- Borneo Post
Coral-eating starfish removed amid outbreak in Semporna
A diver removing a Crown-of-Thorns starfish at Bakungan Island in Semporna. SEMPORNA (June 7): Reef Check Malaysia (RCM), in collaboration with Semporna Aqua Planet and local Community Marine Conservation Groups (CMCGs), has successfully removed 869 Crown-of-Thorns (COT) starfish from the reefs around Bakungan Island in a coordinated emergency reef response. The rapid-response operation was led by RCM staff and trained community members from four islands: Selakan, Larapan, Kulapuan and Pemimpin Belia IKLIM Mabul. The intervention follows a surge in COT outbreaks across Semporna and neighbouring Darvel Bay in Lahad Datu. The coral-eating starfish are known to severely damage reef ecosystems if not promptly managed. 'Outbreaks like this are extremely destructive to reef ecosystems,' said Adzmin Fatta, Programme Manager for Reef Check Malaysia in Semporna. 'The scale and frequency of recent reports are deeply concerning. That's why we're mobilising more trained community teams to respond swiftly to new hotspots.' Crown-of-Thorns starfish is a coral-eating species known to devastate coral ecosystems. RCM also reported ongoing damage from boats anchoring directly on live coral near Timba-Timba Island. With limited enforcement resources, RCM is urging all diving and snorkelling operators to adopt reef-friendly practices immediately. As part of its broader conservation efforts, RCM is promoting the Green Fins programme — a globally recognised initiative that supports the marine tourism industry in adopting sustainable environmental practices. These include proper waste management, avoiding anchor use, and educating tourists on responsible reef behaviour. 'Tour operators play a critical role in reef conservation. By following Green Fins guidelines, they can reduce their ecological footprint and help preserve Semporna's marine heritage for future generations,' Adzmin said. In a positive development, Makatagih Travel & Tours has become the first snorkelling tour operator in Semporna to be assessed and officially join the Green Fins network. While most current members in Malaysia are dive operators, RCM is now expanding assessments to include snorkelling operators, whose activities are more frequent and pose higher cumulative risks to reef ecosystems. 'Our reefs are under increasing pressure — from biological threats like COTs to human impacts from tourism. Now more than ever, urgent and collective action is needed to protect what remains of these vital ecosystems,' said Adzmin. RCM is calling on the public, tourism industry stakeholders, and government agencies to unite in supporting reef protection efforts and safeguarding the long-term health of Semporna's marine environment.
