Ng (sixth from right) with the Jelapang community during a recycling project.
KOPERASI Alam Hijau Perak Berhad (Kohijau) won two awards at the Junior Chamber International (JCI) Malaysia awards ceremony.
The event in collaboration with United Nation (UN) Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), saw Kohijau winning in the Climate Change category, and the Best of the Best Award 2018.
This was the second year such an event was organised by JCI Malaysia. There were a total of 17 categories.
The award serves to increase awareness of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, and for organisations to bring about change through their business activities, innovative products or services and creative contributions toward the goal.
“This is a surprise to all of us, as we are such a small non-governmental organisation (NGO), but with passionate volunteers.
“The big win is the first of its kind for an NGO from Perak and we are very proud of the achievement, more so as we bested bigger corporations and established NGOs,” he said.
Ng said prior to this, Kohijau helped four other communities win awards, including the Premier Award under the Best Innovative Project category won by Rukun Tetangga Jelapang that encouraged the community to supplement their income.
He said last year, Kohijau helped Slim Village emerge third in the National Premier Village award for cleanliness.
“We also helped SMK Raja Perempuan Ipoh emerge national champion in the Toyota Eco Environment project.
“In March this year, we assisted the Selama Police District become the national champion in recycling innovation,” he added.
Ng said Kohijau is grateful to JCI Malaysia for hosting and organising such a prestigious event to reward Malaysian companies and organisations, civil societies and NGOs for their efforts in advancing UN’s SDGs.
He said the Best of the Best Project Award is chosen from the 17 winners based on the most outstanding and sustainable projects, which helps advance the most goals.
The criteria used to select the winners of each category includes how the project is written and presented.
The project must be carried out continuously and sustainable by the organisation staff or volunteers, and not just a one-off affair.
It must also have a large and meaningful impact on the society using a creative and innovative approach.
Ng said Kohijau’s entries were based on its three-year project launched in Jelapang Tambahan in collaboration with the Rukun Tetangga, Perak Solid Waste Management Corporation, and Ipoh City Watch using the social business concept.
The project involved residents from 250 houses, where door-to-door campaigns were used to educate the community to segregate their garbage into recyclables and non-recyclables.
“Collection was carried out twice every month at the centres and the recyclables brought by the residents were weighed.
“The residents were then instantly rewarded with cash according to the weight and type of recyclable contributed.
“Later, a recycling reward point system was introduced and residents were provided with recycling bins for them to drop their recyclables any time at their convenience,” he added.
Ng added to date, some 8,900kg of recyclables had been collected from Jelapang Tambahan and RM3,850 paid out to residents.
He said the recycling rate in this village was 17.5% compared to the average national recycling rate of 10%.
Ng said the 12 illegal dumpsites discovered prior to the recycling campaign had also disappeared and residents were more aware of keeping their environment clean.
“This project has successfully helped salvage 8,900kg of garbage from going to landfills or illegal dumpsites.
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