27 September 2025, Kuala Lumpur — Malaysia generates an estimated 1.07 million tonnes of post-consumer plastic waste, according to a 2020 WWF-Malaysia report. To address this urgent issue, WWF-Malaysia, with support from Yayasan Hasanah, has launched Malaysia, JomPACT!, a nationwide initiative empowering youth, engaging with local councils, and policy makers to lead efforts in tackling single-use plastic pollution.

The project supported via the Hasanah Special Grant by Yayasan Hasanah in collaboration with the Ministry of Finance is anchored on four main themes: the impact of single-use plastics on the urban environment, the link between pollution, climate change and health, a shift to a more sustainable lifestyle, and the role of youth leadership in strengthening efforts towards environmental sustainability. By 2027, the Malaysia, JomPACT! aspires to train youth changemakers, specifically in the Klang Valley to spearhead single-use plastic reduction projects, engage and support two local councils in developing action plans on single-use plastics and deliver policy recommendations to strengthen Malaysia’s plastic management strategies.

It aims to raise awareness and encourage behavioral change among consumers on the impact of single-use plastics. Through an interactive learning approach, the application of creativity, and active community engagement, the Malaysia, JomPACT! campaign aims to empower young people to play a leading role in tackling plastic pollution.

The grand launch event held in Institut Pendidikan Guru Kampus Bahasa Melayu Lembah Pantai featured insightful discussions, interactive workshops and various booths providing solutions in place of problematic and unnecessary single-use plastics.

“Education is at the heart of behavioural change on single plastic-use in the community. Change happens when young people, local councils and policymakers work together, said WWF-Malaysia Senior Conservation Director, Dr Henry Chan. “Malaysia, JomPACT! is a programme that provides youth the tools, platforms and partnerships they need to turn concerns into meaningful actions.

“Yayasan Hasanah is thrilled to be part of this collective effort. As part of the collaboration, WWF-Malaysia will be working directly with our governance structure, while also engaging two local councils to build capacity and strengthen action plans on problematic and unnecessary single-use plastics. As an impact-based foundation, we believe that lasting change is anchored in sustainability, with scalability as a key factor in ensuring wider adoption. Through the development of a comprehensive Plastic Action (PACT) Toolkit, this initiative will empower local councils across Malaysia to replicate solutions — extending the impact beyond the Klang Valley, and moving us closer to a cleaner, more sustainable Malaysia for generations to come,” said Puan Siti Kamariah Ahmad Subki, Trustee & Managing Director of Yayasan Hasanah

Through continued collaboration and the active participation of communities, Malaysia, JomPACT! seeks not only to reduce the country’s reliance on problematic and single-use plastics but also to inspire long-term behavioral shifts that contribute to global environmental sustainability.

With the momentum from its grand launch, the campaign now looks ahead to creating ripple effects across the country — empowering Malaysians from all walks of life to act on addressing problematic and single-use plastics towards a more sustainable Malaysia.

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About Yayasan Hasanah

Yayasan Hasanah (“Hasanah”) is the impact-based foundation of Khazanah Nasional Berhad (“Khazanah”), the sovereign wealth fund of Malaysia. Hasanah was set up as an independent entity on 1 July 2015, building on nine years of Corporate Responsibility (CR) efforts previously driven by Khazanah. As a grant-giving organisation, Hasanah goes beyond ringgit and sen to facilitate an ecosystem of transformation, working in collaboration with multiple stakeholders, infusing a spirit of advocacy and building capacity in five key focus areas: Education; Community Development; Environment; Arts and Public Spaces; and Knowledge. Collectively and collaboratively, Hasanah hopes to shift the needle of social and community reform for Malaysians, towards Advancing Malaysia.

For further information, please visit www.yayasanhasanah.org.

About WWF-Malaysia

Established in 1972, WWF-Malaysia is part of WWF, the international conservation organisation. Working to sustain the natural world for the benefit of people and wildlife, WWF-Malaysia’s efforts to conserve nature focus on six major goals - forests, oceans, wildlife, food, climate and energy, as well as freshwater – and three key drivers of environmental problems – markets, finance and governance. Our mission is to stop the degradation of the earth’s natural environment and to build a future in which humans live in harmony with nature.

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https://www.wwf.org.my/media_and_information/media_centre_and_updates/