2 days ago
MTA, EGTB Drive Marine Conservation Through ‘Ghost Net & Beach Cleanup' Campaign In Perak
LUMUT, July 19 (Bernama) -- The 'Ghost Net & Beach Cleanup' campaign held around Teluk Nipah, Pulau Pangkor, and the waters of Pulau Sembilan has successfully raised public awareness of the dangers of abandoned fishing nets to marine life while contributing to the preservation of the marine ecosystem.
The initiative, organised by the Malaysian Takaful Association (MTA) in collaboration with Etiqa General Takaful Berhad (EGTB) and supported by the Nature Ocean Advocate Society (NOAS), Universiti Sultan Azlan Shah (USAS) and the Perak State Parks Corporation, involved over 80 volunteers, including 50 students, 12 certified divers, 11 NOAS professional divers and representatives from relevant agencies.
MTA chief executive officer Mohd Radzuan Mohamed said the campaign was aimed at raising public awareness on the importance of preserving the environment, particularly the marine ecosystem, which was under growing threat due to pollution.
'This campaign reflects the Takaful industry's commitment to environmental sustainability, in line with the Hijrah27 Transformation Plan under Strategic Thrust 8 (Sustainability & ESG), as part of efforts to support Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 14: Life Below Water, which emphasises the conservation of marine resources.
'As a value-based industry, the Takaful sector not only protects people but also the environment. We hope this initiative will inspire more parties to incorporate sustainability into their operations,' he said when met by Bernama here today.
Also present at the programme were Etiqa General Takaful Berhad chief executive officer Shahrul Azuan Mohamed, USAS vice-chancellor Prof Datuk Dr Wan Sabri Wan Yusof and USAS deputy vice-chancellor (Student Affairs and Industry Networking) Prof Dr Shamsul Jamili Yeop.
Mohd Radzuan said MTA, in collaboration with its strategic partners, would continue the conservation programme at other locations as part of its corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives.
He said the programme, which was a continuation of the 'Echoes of the Deep' photo exhibition launched at the AICB Knowledge Centre in Kuala Lumpur last month, had successfully removed 328 kilogrammes (kg) of ghost nets from the seabed off Pulau Sembilan.
He added that more than 125 kg of rubbish, including food and drink packaging and discarded items, were collected along a one-kilometre (km) stretch of Teluk Nipah beach.
