MIRI – A youth-led volunteer initiative brought renewed attention to environmental stewardship in Sarawak as ASEZ WAO organised a large-scale cleanup at Pulau Melayu on Sunday, 28 June 2026.
The campaign formed part of the group’s ongoing Green Earth project, which aims to encourage sustainable practices and community participation in protecting natural surroundings.
ASEZ WAO, the Young Adult Worker Volunteer Group of the World Mission Society Church of God, mobilised around 50 participants for the effort.
Volunteers, including members, friends, and family, worked together to clear litter along a two-kilometre stretch of Pulau Melayu. Within an hour, they gathered approximately 500 kilograms of waste, filling 30 large bags with discarded plastic, cans, cigarette butts, and other debris.
The organisation explained that the Green Earth project is designed to restore terrestrial ecosystems by removing pollutants from public spaces such as streets, parks, and coastal areas.
A spokesperson noted that the campaign seeks to inspire communities to adopt a stronger sense of responsibility towards the environment, describing it as the foundation of human life.
Participants expressed their personal reflections on the activity. Claudia, 19, remarked, “We are here to spread the love of God through this cleanup activity. As God told us to take care of the earth as well. I truly hope that more people could participate through the action taken by ASEZ WAO and take care of the environment together starting here at Pulau Melayu too. After an hour here we can see how different it is from before. With less trash and glass bottles, it looks wonderful.”
Another volunteer, Clare, 23, highlighted the wider impact of littering, saying, “Through the ASEZ WAO cleaning campaign I realized how important it is to keep our earth clean. Uncontrolled littering really effects the environment as these trash flows into the ocean as well and effects the ecosystem of the ocean as well. Through the lead of ASES WAO, I was filled with the spirit as well to keep the environment clean.”
ASEZ WAO has been active across Malaysia, conducting similar cleanups in Kuching Riverbank Park and Tanjung Batu Beach in Bintulu. In Miri’s Sungai Rait, Bakam, the group planted 150 trees to support reforestation efforts.
Globally, ASEZ WAO runs multiple environmental programmes, including Mother’s Forest for tree planting, Blue Ocean for waterway cleanups, and No More GPGP to combat plastic pollution.
The group’s dedication has earned recognition worldwide, with more than 600 awards from governments and international organisations. These include the U.S. President’s Volunteer Service Award, the Green World Award, and the Green Apple Award.
The World Mission Society Church of God, which oversees ASEZ WAO, operates in over 175 countries with more than 7,800 locations and four million members.
The church emphasises neighbourly love and has conducted over 47,000 volunteer activities ranging from disaster relief and blood donation to cultural exchange and environmental protection.
Its contributions have been acknowledged with more than 5,800 awards, including the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service in the United Kingdom and honours from governments in South Korea, Brazil, and Peru.
The Pulau Melayu cleanup reflects a growing movement among young people in Sarawak to take practical steps towards sustainability.
By combining faith-based motivation with civic responsibility, ASEZ WAO continues to demonstrate how collective action can make a visible difference in local communities.
