34 volunteers from GE Aerospace removed 142 kg of trash from Pantai Bagan Lalang in conjunction with this year’s International Coastal Cleanup (ICC) day.
This is part of GE Aerospace’s philanthropic efforts to combat marine debris both through financial contribution and employee engagement.
Marine debris remains a persistent threat to our ocean and marine ecosystems. Recently, the issue of marine debris affecting popular islands has received increasing attention on social media, highlighting its adverse effects on tourism and local communities.
The ICC is held annually around the world and coordinated locally by Reef Check Malaysia. Every year, thousands of volunteers across Malaysia take part in beach cleanups as part of ICC.
“Marine debris is a serious issue threatening our ocean. While beach cleanups are 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,” says Theresa Ng, Reef Check Malaysia’s Chief Operating Officer.
During the cleanup at Pantai Bagan Lalang, the volunteers collected a wide range of marine debris, including cigarette butts, plastics or foam pieces and plastic beverage bottles.
Among the items collected, the majority found were 760 pieces of cigarette butts, 255 pieces of plastic or foam pieces and 64 plastic beverage bottles, highlighting the diverse range of waste that can be found at Malaysia’s coastlines.
“GE Aerospace is committed to supporting the communities where we live and work through meaningful 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. We are proud to see our employees come together in support of this important effort,” said Kong Hon Leong, Managing Director and Executive Plant Leader, GE Aerospace Engine Services Malaysia.
The partnership with GE Aerospace will support Reef Check Malaysia’s ongoing efforts to tackle marine debris through advocacy, awareness programmes and community-based conservation initiatives.
In 2025, over 8,000 volunteers collectively collected more than 28,000 kg of trash during ICC. For this year’s upcoming ICC in September, Reef Check Malaysia calls on everyone to participate, whether by joining open beach cleanups all over Malaysia or by joining their Kod Blue event happening in Tioman on 19 September 2026.