JCI KK embarks on no plastic straw campaign, aims to collect RM100,000

KOTA KINABALU: Junior Chamber International Kota Kinabalu (JCI KK) is aiming to raise RM100,000 from its ‘Tingkod Noh’ Plastic Straw campaign, to fund the group’s environmental awareness projects.

‘Tingkod Noh’ means stop in Kadazan.

Its organising chairperson Chian Mei Hsing said people need to understand the need to stop using single-use plastic straws which have been proven to be harmful to the environment.

She said the unrecyclable waste could sit in landfill for years. It could also pollute the ocean and waterway thus harming the marine life.

“Malaysians consume 31 million plastic straws each day and it is estimated that 8 million tonnes of plastic are causing problems to our oceans every year.

“Therefore, this campaign is targetting to sell and distribute 30,000 stainless steel straws as alternative and help fund ocean cleanups and other related projects,” she said at the launch today.

Present were Kota Kinabalu City Hall officer Zainuddin Abd Goyoh – representing mayor Datuk Yeo Boon Hai, JCI KK president Daphne Lo and Reef Check Malaysia programme manager for Sabah Nadhirah Mohd Rifai.

To date, she said seven cafes in Kota Kinabalu have pledged not to use plastic straws and will move to sell stainless steel straws instead to customers to help support JCI KK’s cause.

The cafes taking part are; Nook cafe, B Side (Lintas branch), Woo!, One Roof, The Bean, Crofters, Tree Monk, and Joe Sun.

A set of two stainless steel straws and a brush are sold at RM9.

For more information, check out KCI KK’s website, www.jcikk.org or its Facebook page.

Source: New Straits Times