In a heartening display of unity and environmental stewardship, 606 dedicated volunteers from Liberty General Insurance Berhad (LGIB) gathered from May 6th to 9th, 2024, to plant 1,100 Rhizophora Mucronata mangrove trees. As part of EcoKnights’ Tree For Us (T4Us) initiative, this event was a demonstration of their commitment to sustainability and collective action.

The event started with encouraging speeches from representatives of Liberty General Insurance Berhad and EcoKnights, fuelling the volunteers’ excitement and determination. The volunteers then received guidance on safety measures and tree-planting techniques from speakers from EcoKnights and the Forestry Department. The group then began a 1.1 km walk to the planting plot, each step driven by a shared sense of purpose and responsibility.

Upon reaching the plot, the volunteers, with determination and enthusiasm, transformed the landscape one sapling at a time. Every time a sapling was planted, it was a lesson—and a display—of what could be achieved collectively. It served as a reminder that together, we can effect change.

For those interested in joining future environmental initiatives or learning more about EcoKnights, feel free to reach out to us at info@ecoknights.org.my. Let’s continue to make a lasting impact together, one step at a time.

The recent tree planting event at Taman Rimba Bukit Kerinchi, Kuala Lumpur was a clear celebration of environmental conservation and a major step towards creating a greener, more sustainable urban landscape. The tree planting took place on November 2nd, a day filled with excitement and a shared commitment to sustainable urban development. 

A collaborative effort organised by EcoKnights, Dewan Bandaraya Kuala Lumpur Landskap, and Group Tax from Petronas brought together a diverse group of volunteers, including 10 passionate public volunteers. A total of 70 trees, spanning 10 different species, were planted as part of the “Tree4Us Urban Park Tree Planting Programme,” which aims to improve Taman Rimba Bukit Kerinchi’s greenery and benefit the surrounding community and environment. Furthermore, the event was driven by a collective goal to promote biodiversity while combating urbanisation challenges, therefore contributing to the overall well-being of the environment.

The event transpired after meticulous planning, where 10 public volunteers along with 240 members of DBKL and Group Tax actively participated in the planting process. After the initial registration, the event started off with a couple of speeches from EcoKnights, Dewan Bandaraya Kuala Lumpur Landskap and Group Tax. The volunteers were then instructed to take a group photo together and were briefed on tree planting. After listening intently, the volunteers were split into groups of four and began the process of planting their trees.

By the end of the planting, around 70 trees found their new homes while a sense of collective pride filled the air. The “Tree4Us Urban Park Tree Planting Programme” is a prime example of the effectiveness of community-based environmental projects. As the recently planted trees grow, they offer hope for a greener and more sustainable future for Kuala Lumpur.

If you are interested in joining our initiatives or organising sustainable workshops for your area, school, or company, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us at info@ecoknights.org.my. We would be thrilled to offer additional details and explore potential partnerships with you.

December 2nd, 2023 – In a collaborative effort with HSBC volunteers to inspire sustainable living, the Guardians Against Garbage (GAG) initiative take place at Sungai Kayu Ara, Taman Tun Dr Ismail (TTDI), Kuala Lumpur. At 8am, 35 passionate HSBC volunteers united for a notable river cleanup event. Facilitated by EcoKnights, this initiative aimed to combat and reduce river pollution while cultivating a shared sense of environmental awareness within the community.

The event kicked off with an inspiring opening speech and a meticulous safety briefing conducted by EcoKnights facilitators, ensuring that the volunteers were well-equipped with the necessary guidelines and expectations. The river saw enthusiastic participation from HSBC volunteers, who engaged in an exhaustive cleanup operation which targeted the river’s various sections.

The volunteers were divided into three teams and embarked on a mission to restore the river, back to its pristine condition. Their hard work paid off as they were able to collect an impressive total of 377.90 kg of diverse waste, ranging from plastic remnants, textiles and even debris from past construction projects. This cleanup was more than just picking up trash, it was a call for environmental awareness and conservation, acting as a reminder of the urgent need to address proper waste management along with river pollution.

After the cleanup, the volunteers worked seamlessly, forming a human chain to transport the collected debris to the segregation area. The segregation process, where volunteers segregate the trash based on its composition, started out smoothly. However, challenges arose during the segregation process as a handful of the volunteers were starting to become tired. Alas, their unwavering dedication and teamwork enabled them to efficiently categorise the waste. A closing speech acknowledged the volunteers’ tireless efforts, emphasising their pivotal role in contributing to a cleaner environment.

Through their actions, the ardent volunteers from HSBC demonstrated that small, collective efforts can lead to substantial environmental changes. As they departed, the effect of their dedication remained, emphasising the possibility of a more sustainable future, one river cleanup at a time.

If you are interested in joining our initiatives or organising sustainable workshops for your area, school, or company, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us at info@ecoknights.org.my. We would be thrilled to offer additional details and explore potential partnerships with you.

Outgoing EcoKnights’ President’s Farewell Message

Eighteen years ago, I founded an environmental NGO called EcoKnights. EcoKnights was my creative journey in establishing an organization that will craft sustainability programs that I would enjoy running; where my young daughter (Mia was close to four years old at that time) can have fun in and be educated about nature and her role in protecting it, where the public (specifically parents and children) can participate in fun environmental programs.

I did all these from the dining table of our home, in between tending to a kid and doing house chores. It was one of the best times of my life where all I needed to fuel was my brain, and I was churning out ideas, and forming a team, working on creative fundraising approaches, picked up new skills in project and financial management, design and redesign pitch decks, you name it.

I would wake up daily just excited to continue where I left off the night before, all these papers, diagrams, ideas, capturing my vision and passion to drive kick ass public programs on sustainability. My soft skills were on overdrive.

During the early formative years of EcoKnights, and with very little public knowledge and recognition of a small homegrown/grassroots NGO, I was also rejected, turned down, you name it – countless times. While I was equipped with passion and drive, I was not connecting with everyone about what EcoKnights was and what it can do for the country or a “client.” I learnt then how to polish my presentations, how to read my “clients” better,
how to see the problem statement(s), and how to work on win-win solutions that would serve the desired outcomes. That saw me really embracing a more strategic approach to thinking, designing, planning, you name it. My skills required to be analytical, technical, strategic and be outcome driven, were on hyper mode.

During the last decade, I realized the importance of developing sustainability leaders, and focused on the organization’s volunteer and internship programs. I thought that if I can grow a local NGO to attract good talent in all fields of studies, I can have a small chance in crafting and molding these young Malaysian minds to walk, talk, eat, and breathe sustainability. Basically, make them practitioners, at least for that 3-to-6-month duration of their internship program. In short, brainwashed them.

What resulted was unexpectedly amazing! Much to my evil delight. I have seen them come and go, and I have seen many of them grow. Not just academically, but in the way they apply their experiences and knowledge with EcoKnights and leverage on the networks they made to then lead in their own ways in the field of sustainability. I can never express how proud I am of many of them, to see them now presenting their papers on sustainability, or to be invited by them to attend a university reach program they are leading, or to bump into them in a conference and to be whispered by their bosses that “this kid that was your intern is amazing”. Man, that makes me so proud of how our past interns now drive sustainability in their own workspaces and lives.

Today, they (past volunteers and interns) inspire me the most. I witnessed them boldly paving the way to make a difference for the country in sustainability. I am just lucky to have had the chance to be in their sustainability leadership quest/journey.

Over close to two decades, I have seen, and been through a lot with EcoKnights. The bitter ones I learnt from them. The sweet ones, I cherish and am appreciative of them. For sure, there are many best memories and moments, long lasting friendships made, and old connections rekindled and redefined in the name of sustainability. But the ultimate satisfaction is witnessing the current young EcoKnights team lead, administer, plan,
implement, communicate, advocate and forge partnerships independently.

I have served EcoKnights as the organization’s president since 2005. A bit too long if you asked me. To grow something out of nothing was not an easy feat, and once it was well oiled and running, to work on my exit strategy also took a while. Now is the right time to pass the baton to the next person who will continue to drive the organization to meet its vision and mission. All good things need to evolve to become better and I have stayed on for a bit too long (because letting go of a baby you gave birth to such as EcoKnights is hard) and I feel that the time has come for me to say my farewell.

I am excited to announce that Amlir Ayat will be replacing me as the President of EcoKnights and this process will be officially formalized in the following months. All operative and administrative matters will still be lead under the guidance and leadership of Fadly Bakhtiar. I have known Amlir since 1998. He was my first “sifu” when I came back to Malaysia as a young energetic marine biology graduate. He was one of the reasons and main drivers of my passion in sustainability. I learnt the power of education in transforming livelihoods and addressing human-wildlife conflict through and from Amlir. I was privileged to be his pupil, to be taught how to survive with not much in the tropical jungles of Kenong, to appreciate citizen science (even though it wasn’t trending back then) and the strategic ways of networking especially with government agencies. I trust that through Amlir’s leadership in EcoKnights, he will continue to drive the vision and mission of the organization, while lead a young capable and driven team to continue to design and deliver impact-driven sustainability programs for all stakeholders. It has been a wonderful experience and journey and thank you to all who were part of this journey with me.

Dr Yasmin Rasyid
Former President of EcoKnights, 2005 – 2023

10 October 2023

Kuala Lumpur, 10th May 2023 — The recent announcement by Natural Resources, Environment and Climate Change Minister Nik Nazmi regarding the government’s plan to eliminate plastic bag usage across all business sectors by 2025 is a major step towards addressing the issue of plastic pollution in Malaysia. This move confirms the government’s commitment to reducing plastic waste and promoting sustainable practices.

As per the minister’s statement, the “No Plastic Bags” campaign has been implemented in stages, starting with stationary retail outlets like supermarkets and certain local shops. The current ban only applies to physical establishments like supermarkets, mini-markets, and sundry shops, but the government plans to extend it to cover roadside vendors in the future. State governments and local authorities also have the flexibility to decide on the implementation of the ban, based on their individual needs.

As an organization that has been working towards addressing plastic pollution and adopting of sustainable culture at the grassroots level, EcoKnights fully supports the government’s efforts in combating single-use plastic. We believe that this ban will not only reduce plastic waste but also encourage consumers to adopt more sustainable habits. We urge the government to continue raising awareness and educating the public on the importance of reducing plastic use and promoting eco-friendly alternatives.

However, while the government has introduced several policies and incentives to combat plastic pollution, the execution of these plans remains a key challenge. Malaysia generated 525,000 tonnes of plastic waste in 2019, ranking it the eighth-worst country in the world for plastic waste. Furthermore, a report by the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) shows that Malaysia used 148,000 metric tonnes of plastic for food packaging alone in 2020.

Therefore, the public needs to know how the government plans to execute the implementation of the ban in the retail industry, which has 150,482 establishments operating in Malaysia as per the Department of Statistics. EcoKnights urges the government to ensure the effective execution of this plan and work towards making Malaysia a more sustainable and eco-friendly nation.

The Malaysian government launched the “Sayangi Malaysiaku: Malaysia Bersih” campaign in 2018, which aimed to reduce single-use plastics by 50% by 2020. However, the target was not achieved, leading to a new target of zero single-use plastics by 2030 through the Roadmap Towards Zero Single-Use Plastics 2018-2030. Despite continuous campaigns, it is apparent that we are still trailing behind.

As an organization, EcoKnights holds a steadfast position on this matter, which aligns with other local non-governmental organizations (NGOs). We want a better future for Malaysia with improved plastic waste management and production. It is crucial for the ministries to be transparent not only about the execution but also about how the campaign’s impact can be measured quantitatively and qualitatively.

A recent survey by global market research firm Ipsos found that 81% of Malaysians are concerned about plastic waste and want the government to take stronger action to address the issue. This survey underscores the importance of the government’s actions and highlights the need for transparency in planning and execution from top to bottom. EcoKnights urges the government to continue to take a stronger stance and implement more effective measures to reduce plastic waste in Malaysia.

“More importantly than just a ban, we highly encourage the government to ensure that utmost transparency is in place to track the campaign and its impacts on the environment. We have heard of many campaigns launched in the past, and at the end of the day, it only focuses on charging consumers who still want to use disposable plastic bags,” said Amlir Ayat, Vice President of EcoKnights.

EcoKnights acknowledges that the government’s announcement will lead to a more systematic and organized approach to raising awareness and fostering community motivation and engagement in reducing plastic usage through education starting from local establishments to guarantee long-term people’s commitment and active participation. However, it is crucial for the government to involve local NGOs and community-based organizations (CBOs) and relevant government and business sectors in this campaign to ensure their full participation and contribution towards a sustainable future. With a collective effort from all stakeholders, we can achieve a significant reduction in single-use plastics and create a cleaner, healthier environment for all.

Written by: Shahirah Anuar