On January 25, 2025, ASEZ members carried out a cleanup campaign along the Skudai River in Johor. This activity was part of the ASEZ ABC (ASEZ Blue Carbon, ABC) movement, a youth-led environmental initiative aimed at restoring river and coastal ecosystems and contributing to climate crisis response.
At 8:00 a.m. that day, Iskandar Puteri City Councillor Chua Lee Hui and city council officials visited the site, prepared cleaning equipment, and worked together with ASEZ members to clean an approximately 0.6-mile stretch of the Skudai River. Although the activity lasted only a short time, they carefully collected various types of litter—including plastic bottles, glass bottles, plastic bags, and polystyrene foam—resulting in a total of 23 bags (254 pounds) of waste being removed.
This activity went beyond simple cleanup efforts and also incorporated eco-friendly practices to improve water quality. The city council prepared up to 1,000 EM (Effective Microorganisms) mud balls. Made from a mixture of beneficial microorganisms and loess, these mud balls gradually dissolve after being placed in the river, helping to purify the water while reducing algae growth and foul odors.
After completing the cleanup, ASEZ members threw the EM mud balls into the river, sharing their thoughts: “Though not immediately visible, we hope these will become small seeds that help revive the river over time.”
The Skudai River has long suffered from pollution caused by garbage, sewage, and wastewater flowing in from nearby residential areas and industrial complexes. This activity provided an opportunity to witness these challenges firsthand and to seek solutions in cooperation with the local community and municipal government.
City Councillor Chua Lee Hui expressed her appreciation, stating, “I am deeply grateful to the university students who came from afar to care for our local environment. ASEZ’s consistent commitment to environmental protection is a great source of strength for our city. We hope to continue working together to restore the Skudai River and raise environmental awareness among our citizens.”
An official from ASEZ in Malaysia stated, “Public awareness of environmental protection must not end with one-time campaigns but should take root as everyday habits and culture.” The official added, “As the leaders of future society, university students aim to take the initiative in practicing these values and in inspiring change among friends, family members, and the wider community.” The representative further commented, “We hope that small acts of caring for and beautifying our community will accumulate, leading more citizens to actively participate in protecting the environment.”
Jeong Ji-hye, who traveled from South Korea during her winter break to participate, said, “It was an honor to volunteer in Malaysia during my vacation. By cleaning up trash along the riverbank and even throwing EM mud balls for the first time, I was able to physically experience how environmental issues I had only read about in books are manifested in real life.” Shin Hyo-rin also shared, “Through this activity, I began to look more seriously at the environmental issues in the community where I live. I want to introduce ASEZ’s volunteer activities to my classmates and join together in protecting the Earth.”
ASEZ branch in Malaysia has previously carried out a variety of environmental initiatives, including tree-planting activities along the Pulai River in Johor and at Sejai Beach in Asajaya, Sarawak, as well as cleanup efforts in streets and parks. Including the Skudai River, ASEZ plans to gradually expand cleanup campaigns, tree-planting activities, and community-based environmental education programs in areas with high blue carbon potential—such as rivers, beaches, and mangrove forests across Johor and Sarawak.
ASEZ will continue to strengthen cooperation with local governments, schools, and communities throughout Malaysia to further advance the ABC movement. The organization aims to ensure that the small changes that began along the Skudai River lead to tangible outcomes contributing to SDG 13 (Climate Action), SDG 14 (Life Below Water), and SDG 15 (Life on Land).
With the steady participation of university students and strong solidarity within local communities, it is anticipated that the Skudai River will be restored to its vibrant blue state and that “youth-led blue carbon hubs” will gradually expand across Malaysia.