KUCHING: More than 50 environmentally-minded people from various organisations came together recently to clean up the beach at Buntal Esplanade.
They are OCBC Bank staff; Rotarians from Rotary Club of Kuching, Rotary Club of Kuching Central, Rotary Club of Kuching Jaya, Rotary Club of Kuching South, and Rotary Club of Kuching Unity City; Retractors; Interactors; staff of Trienekens (Sarawak) Sdn Bhd; and local residents.
Rotary Club of Kuching president Eric Lew said the activity was aimed at heightening awareness about beach cleanliness.
He said Buntal Esplanade has been gaining traction as a tourist spot, but it has not been at its best in recent years due to pollution.
“We see it as a sight waiting to be explored by both locals and tourists alike. The road into Kampung Buntal, a local fishing village located between Kuching City and Santubong, is open to the public and is famous for its surrounding greenery as well as a host of local delicacies.
“However, over the years, a lot of waste has been disposed of in the surrounding areas and this has slowly turned the place into an eyesore. It was great that we could come together for this beach cleaning exercise and hope it will have a significant impact on the livelihood of the community around Kampung Buntal.
“I’m pleased by the huge turnout, no more eyesore,” Lew said in a statement today.
An estimated 20 kilograms of waste was collected and disposed of.
Lew said given their previous years of collaboration in corporate social responsibility (CSR) programmes, the partnership with OCBC Bank was a natural fit.
“We are grateful to the OCBC Kuching branch for its relentless support and commitment to assist the community, this time looking out for the environment and simply making it greener for everyone,” he said.
Speaking on behalf of OCBC Bank, Kuching branch senior manager Jessie Lim Pei Lian said the bank engages with the local communities by venturing beyond its banking products and services to meet the social needs of the people as well.
“We are always looking for ways to ensure we go greener in everything we do. We are glad to have done our part for the environment while supporting the community around us,” she said.
