3,000 volunteers comb beach in clean-up campaign

GEORGE TOWN (April 18, 2010) : Some 3,000 volunteers converged at the northern coast of Penang on Saturday to participate in a mass clean-up of the island's major public beaches.

The Jom Bersihkan Pantai campaign was organised by the state government in a bid to improve the environmental condition of the shores, which have been blighted by pollution over the past few years.

Armed with sacks, gloves and rakes, volunteers of all ages began as early as 7am at different spots along the shores of Gurney Drive, Tanjung Bungah and Batu Ferringhi.

Supported by the Penang Island Municipal Council and the forestry department, the four-hour-long activity unearthed all sorts of rubbish such as plastic bags, wooden materials, unconsumed food and papers.

State Environment Committee chairman Phee Boon Poh, who led the cleaning along the 1.8km Gurney Drive, said he was disappointed with the inconsiderate attitude of the public in indiscriminately disposing of litter.

He said the state was in the midst of its mangrove-planting programme along Gurney Drive, which has been reportedly affected by changing tidal patterns in recent years.

The Sun