HULU SELANGOR, June 27 — Kampung Orang Asli Tun Abdul Razak in Kuala Kubu Bharu has made history by becoming the first Orang Asli village in Malaysia to establish a drive-through recycling centre under the Sejahtera Komuniti Madani (Sejati Madani) programme.
Malaysian Drug Prevention Association (PEMADAM) Human Resource Development and NGO Relations Bureau secretary Rashdan Rashid said the project demonstrates the commitment of various stakeholders to fostering green practices within the Orang Asli community while supporting environmental sustainability efforts.
He said the initiative, introduced by the Prime Minister’s Department, aims to preserve the local habitat while strengthening the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through the involvement of government agencies, the community and the private sector under the Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) agenda.
“This project supports at least four SDGs, namely poverty eradication, food security, good health and public hygiene, and quality education,” he told Media Selangor.
Rashdan said five nearby primary schools will also be involved to raise awareness among pupils about the importance of environmental conservation.
“We want schoolchildren to become ambassadors for sustainability and environmental stewardship in Hulu Selangor.”
He added that the success of the initiative depends on continued cooperation among all stakeholders to ensure its long-term benefits for the community.
Meanwhile, Universiti Malaya's Nex Urban Lab secretary Muhammad Adam Ali Muhammad Najib said the drive-through recycling centre at Kampung Orang Asli Tun Abdul Razak will be monitored for at least six months before the initiative is expanded to 18 other Orang Asli villages nationwide.
He said the team will work closely with the Orang Asli Village Development and Security Committee (JPKKOA) to ensure the facility operates smoothly, including overseeing its administrative management throughout the monitoring period.
He said Nex Urban Lab’s seven-member team will continuously monitor the centre’s operations to ensure the initiative remains sustainable in the long term.
Adam said the project serves as a benchmark as it is Malaysia’s first drive-through recycling centre involving an Orang Asli community, although there are currently 169 drive-through recycling centres nationwide.
He added that Nex Urban Lab also plans to expand its awareness programme by involving about 130 students from a nearby boarding school, as well as five schools around Kuala Kubu Bharu, to instil recycling habits from a young age.
