Retired Malaysian Couple Cycles & Collects Up To 2KG Of Trash Every Week
A couple who plogs together, stays together.
By Yap Wan Xiang — 21 Jan 2025, 06:36 PM
Meet Bujang Hussin and Marjian Suud, a couple who goes plogging every week in their neighbourhood in Semenyih, Selangor
But what exactly is plogging, you may ask
Plogging is the act of picking up litter while jogging, running, hiking, or walking. The word comes from the Swedish words 'plocka upp' (pick up) and 'jogga' (jog).
Speaking to SAYS, Bujang said he and his wife have been plogging since July 2023
But instead of jogging, Bujang and Marjian cycle, as it allows them to cover up to four areas around Setia Mayuri.
They can easily collect up to 2kg of trash, which they dispose of at a shop lot area before going for breakfast there.
The most trash they can carry in a plastic bag is 3kg, after which the weight becomes inconvenient for them.
When asked what motivated Bujang to start plogging, he said that seeing plastic bottles littering the roads and parks around his neighborhood inspired him to start protecting the environment
"When we started cycling, I saw a lot of empty bottles on the roadside.
"This is not good for the environment. So I started collecting them," said Bujang, a retiree who had worked in PETRONAS for 15 years.
While it's not easy to prevent people from littering, he said that plogging might inspire others to change for the better.
"Almost every day, I see residents waving and honking at me for cleaning up the roads, and that makes me very happy," said Bujang, a performance coach who now trains professionals to become better leaders and communicators.
Other than trash, Bujang and Marjian also collect nails, bolts, screws, and other sharp objects that pose a danger to pedestrians and vehicles
The retiree uses a litter picker he purchased from MR DIY to collect trash, which he said is essential to plog safely and without hurting his back.
After plogging for almost two years, Bujang is happy to learn that some Malaysians have set up plogging communities in other areas.
He expressed hope that more people would start plogging, making the activity more popular and keeping their neighborhoods clean.
Nails, bolts, and screws that Bujang and Marjian collected in recent weeks.
Image via Provided to SAYS
