More than fifty environmentally-minded people comprising OCBC Bank staff; Rotarians from Rotary Club of Kuching, Rotary Club of Kuching Central, Rotary Club of Kuching Jaya, Rotary Club of Kuching South, and Rotary Club of Kuching Unity City; Rotaractors; Interactors; and staff of Trienekens (Sarawak) Sdn Bhd  and the local Kuching community came together recently to clean up the beach at Buntal Esplanade, a hidden gem 30 kilometres from city of Kuching.

OCBC Kuching branch staff along with the other volunteers collecting the filth at the beach

The activity was also aimed at heightening awareness about cleanliness at the beach.

According to Rotary Club of Kuching President Mr Eric Lew, Buntal Esplanade has been gaining traction as a tourist spot but has not been at its best in recent years due to pollution.

“We see it is as a sight waiting to be explored by both locals and tourists alike. The road into Kampung Buntal, a local fishing village located between Kuching City and Santubong, is open to the public and is famed for its surrounding greenery as well as a host of local delicacies.

“However, over the years, a lot of waste has been disposed of in the surrounding areas and this has slowly turned the place into an eyesore. It was great that we could come together for this beach cleaning exercise and hope it will have a significant impact on the livelihood of the community around Kampung Buntal. I’m pleased with the huge turnout and glad that we did it together – no more eyesore but beauty all around,” he said.

An estimated 20 kilograms of waste was collected and disposed off properly.

All smiles after a job well done at the beach

Mr Lew added that given their previous years of collaboration in corporate social responsibility programmes, the partnership with OCBC Bank was a natural fit.

“We are grateful to the OCBC Kuching branch for their relentless support and commitment to assisting the community, this time looking out for the environment and simply making it greener for everyone,” he said.

Speaking on behalf of OCBC Bank, its Kuching branch Senior Manager, Ms Jessie Lim Pei Lian, said that the Bank engages with the communities it is involved in by venturing beyond its superior banking products and services to meeting the social needs of the people as well.

“We are always looking for ways to ensure we go greener in everything we do. We are glad to have done our part for the environment whilst supporting the community around us,” she said.

Ms Lim added that with 90 years of giving to communities, OCBC looks forward to enabling individuals, SMEs and businesses to build a more sustainable future.