Prepared by: Dr. Mohd Rashidi Abdull Manap AMRSC, FSSM | 

Pulau Tioman,August 20th, 2024 – The International Climate Change Action @ Tioman 2024 (ICCA@Tioman 2024) program, organized by the Faculty of Science, Universiti Putra Malaysia, will be held in collaboration with the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (APMM) as a strategic partner. The event is scheduled to take place from September 26 to 27, 2024. To ensure the smooth execution of the program, APMM and several program committee representatives have traveled to Pulau Tioman to attend meetings with other strategic partners to discuss and coordinate the roles of each partner for the successful implementation of the program.

The International Climate Change Action @ Tioman 2024 (ICCA@Tioman 2024) initiative aims to inspire individuals and communities to adopt more sustainable practices and support policies addressing waste management and environmental conservation, which can have a broader impact on mitigating climate change. Climate change results from long-term shifts in global temperatures and weather patterns largely driven by human activities. It is caused by an increase in greenhouse gases that trap heat, leading to a rise in the Earth's average temperature. Planned activities include raising climate change awareness among school students through Science, Engineering, Technology, and Mathematics (STEM) activities, beach clean-ups to reduce plastic pollution, underwater clean-ups to collect crown-of-thorns starfish (COTS) which prey on coral polyps, and exhibitions by the Maritime Department and the Department of Chemistry Malaysia at Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Tekek.

The Faculty of Science, UPM, is collaborating with the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (APMM) to achieve results that have a positive impact on the success of ICCA@Tioman 2024. Participants include private companies, local councils, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), communities, schools, universities, and both local and international volunteers. APMM plays a crucial role in this program by providing logistical and security support to 8 committee members and two students under the Deutscher Akademischer Austauschdienst Exchange Service (DAAD) program: Jannik Werner Dams from the University of Bonn, Germany, and Muhammad Ibadurrahman bin Imizan from the University of Manchester, UK. They, along with UPM researchers, are conducting research on microplastics over a two-month period across several Southeast Asian countries.

The expedition to Pulau Tioman was escorted by Kdr (M) Mohd Zulfahmi bin Mohammad and Lt (M) Mohd Firdaus bin Hamdan from Jeti Post Maritim Teluk Gading to Pulau Tioman aboard Perkasa 1244 and 1246 boats. Upon arrival at Jeti Pulau Tioman, the UPM representatives and APMM personnel were welcomed by the Principal of SMK Tekek, a strategic partner for the ICCA@Tioman 2024 program. They were provided accommodation at the SMK Tekek hostel. The program scheduled for September aims to raise awareness about climate change and its impact on local community activities. Additionally, it is hoped that it will help the community understand and address environmental issues on Pulau Tioman.

The ICCA@Tioman committee representatives from UPM received a safety briefing

from Lt (M) Mohd Firdaus bin Hamdan before commencing their journey to Tioman.

ICCA@Tioman committee representatives from UPM along with the 2 student of the Deutscher Akademischer Austauschdienst Exchange Service (DAAD) program

in front of boats Perkasa 1244 and 1246.

About Author:

Dr. Mohd Rashidi Abdull Manap AMRSC, FSSM |  Department of Chemistry Faculty of Science, Universiti Putra Malaysia Expertise: Analytical Chemistry, FTIR and Raman Spectroscopy, Quantum Chemistry, Novel Psychoactive Substances, Aerosol Characterization. Email:  rashidichemistry@upm.edu.my

Date of Input: 26/08/2024 | Updated: 26/08/2024 | hidayahsaleh