Led by BEST’s Deputy Chairman, Mr. Baton Bijamin and staff of Borneo Eco Tours, Tanjung Kapor Assemblyman, YB Teo Chee Kang made a noteworthy presence when he joined in the gotong-royong, after delivering his message to all participants.

The beach cleaning program is aimed at creating awareness among the local communities on the importance of preserving a pristine environment, especially the benefits it brings to health and social life of the villagers. Kimihang Beach was chosen by BEST as the site for this year’s Environmental Awareness Campaign as it recently received international recognition by virtue of the Global Environment Facility Small Grant Program (GEF SGP) to develop a sustainable ecotourism-based community, due to the beautiful natural surrounding it has, and the uniqueness of the culture that bloomed within the area. The project will run for two years, to encompass strategies for community capacity building through various means of training and setting up of locally initiated enterprises that are based on globally accepted guidelines which will benefit the community and the environment.

BEST Society, a non-profit organization funded by the Borneo Eco Tours and Sukau Rainforest Lodge has been actively advocating the conservation of environment and capacity building of local communities in Sabah since the year 2000. Among similar projects undertaken before this was in 2008, when BEST Society, along with the Environmental Action Committee Sabah (EAC) and Matunggong District office jointly organized the Terongkongan Environmental Care Campaign in Matunggong District, Kudat. Other successful projects worth noting are KWICORP (Kinabatangan Wildlife Corridor Regeneration Program), medical and water tank projects in Sukau.

It is hoped that through this campaign, a good example is set for the community to instill within themselves a sense of place and ownership for the local surrounding and to continually educate the younger generation on the importance of preserving one’s natural environment.