UMPSA, IEM YES and Nextgreen join forces to make plogging programme at Pantai Lagenda a success

PEKAN, 4 April 2026 – A total of 50 participants took part in the Plogging Programme at Pantai Lagenda, Pekan, which was held in a spirit of volunteerism and awareness of the importance of environmental preservation.

This programme was jointly organised by the IEM Club, Universiti Malaysia Pahang Al-Sultan Abdullah (UMPSA), the UMPSA Eco Nexus Club, and the UMPSA Sustainability Development Centre, in collaboration with the IEM Young Engineers Section (IEM YES) and Nextgreen Sdn. Bhd.

The activity, which began as early as 8:00 am, started with a light exercise session before participants carried out the main activity of collecting litter around the beach area.

Also present to enliven the programme was the Director of the UMPSA Sustainability Development Centre, Dr. Suhaidah Hussain.

Also in attendance were the Chairman of IEM YES Pahang, Muhammad Aiman Suhaimi; the Deputy Chairman of IEM YES Pahang, Muhammad Faez Abdullah; IEM YES Pahang member, Mohammad Jashri Mohd. Jali; and the Human Resource Operations Manager of Nextgreen Sdn. Bhd., Elise Tan.

Dr. Suhaidah recorded her appreciation and gratitude to all strategic partners who had worked hand in hand to make this programme a success, particularly the UMPSA IEM Club and the UMPSA Eco Nexus Club, which demonstrated a strong commitment to advancing the university’s sustainability agenda.

She added that the programme, held in conjunction with Earth Day celebrations in April, aimed to raise awareness of the importance of maintaining the cleanliness of beach areas while cultivating a sustainable lifestyle culture among the community and university students.

“This programme is not only focused on litter collection activities, but also plays an important role in preventing solid waste from flowing into the sea, which could disrupt the marine ecosystem and endanger marine life,” she said.

Pantai Lagenda, which is located near UMPSA, has become one of the main recreational locations for the university community and the local community.

Therefore, it is a shared responsibility to ensure that this area remains clean, preserved, and sustainable for future generations.

Throughout the programme, participants successfully collected a total of 115 kilograms of waste, consisting of various types of discarded materials such as plastic, bottles, tissues, and other solid waste.

The organisation of such programmes is hoped to continue in the future as a platform for strategic collaboration between the university, professional bodies, and industry in efforts to strengthen sustainability practices and increase public awareness of environmental care.

Meanwhile, according to the Chairman of IEM YES Pahang, Muhammad Aiman Suhaimi, programmes such as this not only have a positive impact on the environment but also cultivate leadership values, teamwork, and social responsibility among young people, particularly engineering students.

“Through active involvement in community programmes such as this, participants can apply engineering values that are not only focused on physical development, but also on balance with environmental sustainability,” he said.

By: Nor Salwana Mohammad Idris, Sustainability Development Centre
Translation by: Ts. Dr. Rozaimi Abu Samah, UMPSA Press