By Zaki Salleh
IPOH: The community of Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan (SMK) Anderson showed their love for rivers by successfully organizing an environmental education program titled ‘Love Our River Environment’ on the banks of the Kinta River.
With the theme ‘Preserved Rivers, Prosperous Life’, the initiative was spearheaded by SMK Anderson’s Co-curricular Unit in collaboration with the Perak State Department of Irrigation and Drainage (JPS).
This program is also part of the Malaysian UNESCO Associated Schools Network (ASPnet), which focuses on the global agenda of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
More than 400 participants took part in the event, including 340 students, 50 teachers, 5 representatives from the Parent-Teacher Association, and 10 officers from the Perak and Kinta-Batang Padang JPS offices.
The primary objective was to raise awareness among the younger generation about the importance of preserving river cleanliness and reducing pollution caused by litter and waste.
In addition, the program aimed to instill a sense of care and empathy for the environment among students, while strengthening the relationship between students and the local community.
One of the program’s highlights was a knowledge-sharing session by Mohd Fadhil Ahmad, Senior Assistant Director of the River and Coastal Engineering Division, JPS Perak.
He delivered a talk titled ‘The Importance of Rivers and Environmental Conservation.’
The session was followed by a safety briefing before the Kinta River cleanup activity commenced.
The gotong-royong (communal work) activity was personally led by SMK Anderson Principal, Shamsahhimi Harun.
According to Shamsahhimi, such programs not only provide students with learning experiences outside the classroom but also shape strong character and civic awareness.
“When students are given the opportunity to be directly involved, they develop a greater appreciation and understanding of their role in protecting the environment,” he said.
The program also received praise from JPS, which viewed this effort as a prime example of collaboration between educational institutions and government agencies in preserving river sustainability.
Meanwhile, Co-curriculum Secretary and ASPnet Secretary of SMK Anderson, Azana Rita Abd Aziz, stated that the school is one of the selected institutions under Malaysia’s UNESCO ASPnet program.
She mentioned that this initiative aligns with the United Nations’ sustainable development goals.
“SMK Anderson continues to demonstrate its commitment to nurturing environmentally-conscious youth through active participation in high-impact programs like this.
“We hope that organizing this program will inspire more green initiatives that support the country’s sustainable development goals,” she added.
