By DayakDaily Team
SIMANGGANG, March 24: The Sri Aman District Council (MDSA) has been selected to host Sarawak Local Authorities Earth Hour 2026, which will take place on March 28.
In a Sarawak Public Communication Unit (Ukas) news, MDSA chairman councillor Anthony Abell Chendan said the main event will be preceded by a series of side activities on March 27, including a workshop on producing soap from used cooking oil and a school-level colouring competition.
“On the morning of March 28, we will organise a gotong-royong with the Sri Aman community, alongside the opening of counters for dog licence applications and assessment tax payments at the ground floor of the MDSA Library building, as well as an aerobics session,” he said at a press conference held at the council’s meeting room today.
Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Dr Sim Kui Hian is scheduled to officiate the programme at 8.30pm at the Sri Aman Mini Stadium by symbolically switching off the lights for one hour, in unison with government agencies in the area.
During the lights-off period, the programme will also feature video screenings on environmental issues and climate change.
Abell added that the event will be livestreamed on social media, with an estimated 200 to 250 participants expected to join virtually through links distributed to 28 local authorities statewide.
“I call on all residents in Sri Aman to switch off their lights and non-essential electrical appliances at 8.30pm on March 28 as a show of commitment to protecting the environment.
“We hope this initiative will foster sustainable living practices in everyday life, while positioning Sri Aman as an environmentally conscious community,” he said.
Also present at the press conference were MDSA secretary Mohd Rizal Zakaria, deputy chairperson of the MDSA Community Development and Tourism Committee councillor Chin Li Li, council member Joshua Fam, and other MDSA staff.
Earth Hour is a global movement initiated by the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), encouraging individuals and organisations to switch off non-essential lights for one hour as a symbolic gesture of commitment to environmental conservation and climate action.
The initiative was first held in Sydney, Australia, in 2007, when more than two million people and 2,000 businesses participated. Since then, it has grown into a worldwide movement involving over 190 countries and territories. — DayakDaily
