CML STAFF JOIN PLOGGING@PANTAI TANJUNG GOSONG TO CHAMPION ENVIRONMENTAL AWARENESS

PEKAN, 23 July 2025 – Academic staff from the Centre for Modern Languages (CML), Universiti Malaysia Pahang Al-Sultan Abdullah (UMPSA), joined nearly 100 volunteers in the Plogging@Pantai Tanjung Gosong initiative, an environmental program that combines fitness with sustainability by jogging while picking up litter. 

The event brought together participants from UMPSA, Pos Malaysia Berhad Pahang, SWCorp, and Alam Flora in a joint effort to protect and preserve coastal areas. Plogging, a concept that began in Sweden by merging the words jogging and plocka upp (“to pick up”), has grown into a global movement promoting both physical health and environmental care. 

Representing CML were Siti Norzaimalina Abd. Majid, Noraisah Nurul Fatwa Mohd Razali, and Siti Ainun Jariyah Hassan, whose involvement underscored the Centre’s dedication to supporting SDG 13 (Climate Action) and SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals) through cross-disciplinary engagement. 

“As language educators, we believe in promoting real-world literacy, and environmental discourse is a key part of that. Activities like plogging not only offer language learning opportunities outside the classroom but also inspire civic consciousness among students,” said Noraisah. 

The plogging activity covered a 500-meter stretch of Tanjung Gosong Beach and successfully collected 333.2 kilograms of waste, including general waste (124 kg), foam/plastic waste (27.6 kg), garden waste (16.5 kg), rigid plastics (14.3 kg), rubber waste (12 kg), and bottles (10 kg). The data gathered will be used for waste auditing and to guide sustainable waste management strategies along coastal zones. 

Dr. Suhaidah Hussain, Director of UMPSA’s Sustainable Development Centre (SDC), noted that this was UMPSA’s second plogging session of the year, with the next scheduled for October. She emphasized the program’s role in fostering environmental responsibility and strategic partnerships between academia, government agencies, and industry. Other participants praised the initiative for raising awareness and encouraging public responsibility.  

Through the active involvement of its staff, CML continues to strengthen its commitment to environmental advocacy, showing that language education and sustainability can go hand in hand in building a more conscious and engaged community. 

Prepared by: Noraisah Nurul Fatwa Mohd Razali & Siti Norzaimalina Abd. Majid