A total of 15 residents from Kampung Teh, Mukah gained hands-on experience in producing environmentally friendly soap from used cooking oil during the Sarawakku Membaca Bersama Pemimpin Sarawak Carnival Series 8 held at Dewan Serbaguna Kampung Teh.
The SDG: Eco Enzyme & Eco Soap Workshop, organised by Pustaka Negeri Sarawak, introduced the local community to sustainable practices while highlighting the importance of recycling household waste into useful products.
The workshop, which ran from 8.30am to 5.00pm, was conducted with the involvement of three lecturers from Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS), namely Dr Ain Nadirah Romainor and Dr Mugunthan Perumal from the Faculty of Science and Technology, as well as Dr Faizan Iza Zainuddin from the Faculty of Economics and Business.
Participants were taught the process of transforming used cooking oil into eco-friendly soap, providing them with practical knowledge that can contribute towards reducing household waste and promoting sustainable living practices.
The activity was part of the wider carnival programme aimed at encouraging reading habits, lifelong learning and knowledge sharing among communities in Sarawak.
Apart from the eco-friendly workshop, the carnival also featured various educational and creative activities designed for people of all ages, from children to senior citizens.
These programmes focused on nurturing creativity, improving arts and handicraft skills, and increasing public awareness of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The event also featured exhibitions and information booths by various state and federal agencies, as well as organisations including the National Information Dissemination Centre (NADI), Sarawak Forestry Corporation, Malaysian Palm Oil Board (MPOB), Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM) Sarawak Mukah Campus, Persatuan Mencegah Dadah Malaysia (PEMADAM), Unit Komunikasi Awam Sarawak (UKAS) and other participating agencies.
UNIMAS said the university appreciates the continued collaboration with Pustaka Negeri Sarawak in bringing sustainability education and community empowerment programmes to grassroots communities.
Through its expertise across various fields, UNIMAS remains committed to working with government agencies and organisations to support Sarawak’s SDG agenda while promoting environmental awareness and sustainable practices among local communities.
