Trash Hero Putrajaya is an NGO committed to raising awareness about the dangers of littering and the importance of caring for the environment.

Photo via Malay Mail

Its 63-year-old founder, Datin Norelan Ismail, just so happens to share her year of birth with Malaysia’s year of independence, and her organisation is especially eager to live up to this year’s National Day theme of “Malaysia Prihatin.”

Trash Hero Putrajaya, which is part of a global network of volunteers focused on cleaning and reducing waste, does regular cleanups around the city.

Norelan told Malay Mail, “There were times where I had to do it alone, other times there were just two people but as we progress and update our social media more often, thankfully we have some hardcore volunteers that come again and again.”

The group, of course, had to put cleanups on hold during the Movement Control Order (MCO), but resumed work once restrictions were lifted.

Norelan really hopes she’ll be able to inspire the younger generation to make a conscious effort to keep our country clean and learn about environmental issues through this initiative.

She says her dream is to see Putrajaya and Malaysia as a whole becoming a trash-free zone, and with the “Malaysia Prihatin” National Day theme, she hopes her dream can come sooner rather than later.

“I want Malaysians to open up their hearts and minds about everything related to the environment. If we don’t do it, who will?

“It’s something very simple. If each of us plays our role to dispose of our waste properly, Malaysia has the potential to be a trash-free country,” she concluded.

For more information on Trash Hero Putrajaya, you can follow them on their Facebook page.

We hope that all Malaysians can aspire to be like Norelan, and work towards a trash-free Malaysia!

By: Kyle Roshen Jacob