Penang chief minister goes ‘plogging’

The practice, which originated in Europe many years ago, literally means to pick up trash while jogging.

Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow (centre) with other leaders after their plogging session at the Taman Tunku recreational park in Seberang Jaya.

BUTTERWORTH: Penang has jumped onto the plogging bandwagon, a practice that originated in Europe many years ago.

Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow, along with other state leaders, went plogging today, which literally means picking up trash while jogging.

The plogging session was held at the Taman Tunku recreational park in Seberang Jaya, near here, where participants went around picking up trash in the park, armed with upcycle bags made out of buntings and posters.

“We have organised this programme to increase the public’s awareness on taking care of the environment, and to also introduce a new environment-friendly lifestyle called plogging, which can be something the public can pick up as a new initiative in volunteerism.

“We have started on a small scale. Penang Green Council has organised this in conjunction with the World Environment Day. This is the little that we can do, to clean up the environment, while jogging,” Chow said, adding that this would also send a message that cleaning the environment was a joint effort among the community.

Chow was today joined by state environment committee chairman Phee Boon Poh, Seberang Jaya assemblyman Dr Afif Bahardin, Bukit Tengah assemblyman Gooi Hsiao Leung, Seberang Perai Municipal Council (MPSP) president Rozali Mohamud and Penang Island City Council (MBPP) mayor Yew Tung Seang.

The programme, Chow said, was in line with the World Environment Day’s theme this year, which is “Beat Plastic Pollution”.

“We may feel that this (plastic) problem has nothing to do with us, that it is far out at sea, away from us. But where do all these plastic waste come from? They come from all of us.

“There is plastic waste in playgrounds, on the roads, in front of houses, shops and schools. We need to manage waste disposal properly. Plastic that isn’t picked up will be carried in the drains, flow down to rivers, and eventually out to sea,” he said.

Chow said that the programme today had received overwhelming response from the public, with some already asking if a similar programme could be held on the island. -FMT