Education is key to tackling marine pollution, says Tunku Azizah

Tunku Azizah Aminah Maimunah Iskandariah, the Tengku Ampuan Pahang, stresses that education is the primary defense against escalating marine pollution. She advocates for instilling a deep appreciation for nature in children from an early age, arguing that conservation cannot depend on enforcement alone.

Her Royal Highness pointed to Japan as an example of a nation that has cultivated disciplined citizens through early education in cleanliness. "As parents, we must educate our children not to be spoiled and to take cleanliness lightly. The value of maintaining cleanliness and disposing of trash properly must be instilled from childhood," she stated.

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As parents, we must educate our children not to be spoiled and to take cleanliness lightly. The value of maintaining cleanliness and disposing of trash properly must be instilled from childhood.

The Queen's remarks follow a recent report by Mingguan Malaysia detailing the severe plastic waste problem on Redang Island. An investigation found hundreds of kilograms of marine debris collected from the sea and its shores over three days, underscoring the urgency of the issue.

Tunku Azizah also highlighted the importance of legal compliance, referencing Australia and Singapore as countries with disciplined societies that adhere to environmental laws. She expressed concern over the South China Sea becoming a "trash ocean," with debris carried by currents, potentially from neighboring countries. She noted that river systems, like the Pahang River, also contribute to this problem by carrying waste downstream to the sea.

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The South China Sea is like a trash ocean. A lot of trash is brought in by the waves. In Redang, for example, there are fishermen from Vietnam and Cambodia who are in the waters for months to catch fish.