PKKB Raises Community Awareness On Environmental Sustainability

KOTA BHARU, Aug 23 (Bernama) -- The Urban Community Sustainability Program (PKKB) serves as a platform to introduce initiatives that drive sustainable socio-economic development and foster close community collaboration for an inclusive and prosperous nation, said Deputy Housing and Local Government Minister Datuk Aiman Athirah Sabu.

She said the programme’s objective was to raise awareness among urban residents about the importance of environmental sustainability through education and outreach programmes, while also encouraging active community participation in recycling, energy saving, and waste reduction.

“PKKB also aims to improve the quality of life of urban residents by introducing sustainable living practices that help reduce pollution and enhance public health.

“It also enables leaders to reach out to residents, building closer ties with communities, while creating a community that takes greater responsibility for the environment,” she said.

She said this in her speech at the PKKB: MADANI Community Carnival at the Kota Bharu People’s Housing Program (PPR) here today, which was also attended by Solid Waste Management and Public Cleansing Corporation (SWCorp) chief executive officer Khalid Mohamed.

Elaborating, Aiman Athirah said the ministry had always strived to provide the best solid waste management and public cleansing services to the people through the implementation of the Zero Waste Community (KOSIS) programme in selected PPRs nationwide since 2020.

“I was told that the Kota Bharu PPR, launched on April 20, 2019, with 1,000 housing units, has now become a model of an active and competitive community in sustainability initiatives.

“From 2020 to 2024, the KOSIS programme in this PPR successfully collected and sold 115,000 kg of recyclables worth RM34,620, as well as 16,400 kg of used cooking oil totalling RM41,000,” she said.

Aiman Athirah said that on March 26, the KOSIS centre was handed over to the local community, granting residents full authority and responsibility to manage it according to their needs and preferences.

“The management will be supported by regular monitoring by SWCorp to ensure smooth operations and the effectiveness of the programmes carried out.

“We firmly believe that when communities are given trust, they are able to become agents of change that can drive sustainable lifestyles for the benefit of all,” she said.

--BERNAMA