GE Aerospace volunteers remove 142kg of waste from Bagan Lalang

Thirty-four volunteers from GE Aerospace removed 142kg of waste from Pantai Bagan Lalang during a beach cleanup held in conjunction with this year’s International Coastal Cleanup (ICC).

The initiative formed part of GE Aerospace’s philanthropic efforts to address marine debris through financial contributions and employee participation, while supporting wider community-based conservation efforts in Malaysia.

Cleanup highlights scale of marine debris

During the cleanup, volunteers collected a variety of marine debris, including cigarette butts, plastic and foam pieces, and plastic beverage bottles.

Among the items recovered were 760 cigarette butts, 255 pieces of plastic or foam and 64 plastic beverage bottles. The findings highlighted the range of waste that can accumulate along Malaysia’s coastlines and enter marine environments.

Marine debris remains a persistent environmental concern, with pollution affecting marine ecosystems as well as coastal communities and tourism destinations. The issue has also received increased public attention following social media posts highlighting waste found on popular Malaysian islands.

Reef Check Malaysia coordinates the ICC locally, with thousands of volunteers participating in beach cleanups across the country each year.

“Marine debris is a serious issue threatening our ocean. While beach cleanups is not the long-term solution, they play an important role in removing debris that are already in the environment. They also help to create awareness and allow participants to see the impact of marine debris firsthand,” said Theresa Ng, Chief Operating Officer of Reef Check Malaysia.

Partnership supports wider conservation efforts

Kong Hon Leong, Managing Director and Executive Plant Leader of GE Aerospace Engine Services Malaysia, said the company was committed to supporting communities through local partnerships and employee engagement.

“Through our partnership with Reef Check Malaysia, we are able to contribute both funding and volunteer support to help address marine debris and protect Malaysia’s marine ecosystems,” he said.

The partnership will also support Reef Check Malaysia’s broader work in marine debris advocacy, awareness programmes and community-based conservation initiatives.

In 2025, more than 8,000 volunteers collectively collected over 28,000kg of waste during ICC activities.

For this year’s ICC in September, Reef Check Malaysia is encouraging members of the public to participate in beach cleanups nationwide, as well as its Kod Blue event in Tioman on September 19, 2026.