The Junior Chamber International (JCI) South Key, a youth Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) successfully hosted the 2022 Last Straw Johor Festival with nearly 500 participants on the 24th of July 2022 at R&F Mall Johor Bahru.
The Festival was attended by Dr Aslinda binti Salikin, Pengarah Kesihatan Majlis Bandaraya Johor Bahru (MBJB) as the representative of MBJB, Pejabat Pendidikan Daerah Johor Bahru, corporate entities and Souper Tang who is the ambassador of 2022 Last Straw Johor.
The Festival attracted 15 representatives from Government, Non-Government Organisations, Private Companies and F&B Restaurants who had pledged to reduce and move to ban the single-use plastic straw.
Organising Chairman, Tang Mei Ay shared that the festival wanted to connect with the Government sector, NGOs, Private Companies and F&B Restaurants to reduce the usage of single-use plastic straws for the public which is a crucial movement to protect the environment. She also hopes to promote the awareness of the environment to the public and create a sustainable green world for our next generation.
The JCI committee team spent two months to prepare this successful Festival.
“Reducing the usage of plastic straws in our daily life is important to keep our environment clean,” said 2022 JCI South Key Local President, Ng Jia Yi. Last Straw Johor is the Flagship Project of JCI South Key since 2018. Prior to this, the Johor State Government had enforced a 6 months trial period to ban plastic straws. Unfortunately, the plan was abandoned due to the MCO. Therefore, he hopes to re-connect with the Government sector and relevant supporting partners to re-enforce the trial period through this Festival, educate the public on the importance to reduce the usage of single-use plastic straws, and contribute to a green environment.
Meanwhile, Dr Aslinda on behalf of the MBJB appreciates JCI South Key who initiated this movement to ban plastic straws with a genuine motive to protect the environment. She has given her word to bring this MBJB’s attention and review the enforcement of 6 months trial period.
The Festival also invited 2022 JCI South Key Vice President of Community, Faizul Amin bin Anuar to give a Last Straw Johor Awareness Talk to the public on explaining the importance of the movement.
JCI South Key also collaborated with Pejabat Pendidikan Daerah Johor Bahru to invite primary school students in Johor Bahru for a colouring contest, and it successfully attracted nearly 120 students with the theme of Care for Ocean, Say NO to Single-Used Plastic!
There were also Handcraft Booths and an exhibition from JCI South Key in relation to the NO-STRAW movement. The kids were taught to make a maze and kaleidoscope from recycled items and plastic straws. 30 students from the Leo Club of Foon Yew High School attended as volunteers to guide the children to finish their handcrafts.
The highlight of the Festival was the Recycle Fashion Design Challenge, which saw the participation of 5 groups of the public. The participants used recycled items to design the fashion within half an hour.
So let’s start saying no to plastic straws.
For more information about JCI South Key, please visit JCI South Key’s Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/jcisouthkey.
