South of Johor Updates:
October – December 2025
Stakeholder Consultation and Engagement
Our RCM colleagues continued engaging key partners to strengthen marine conservation efforts in southern Johor. Discussions with Majlis Perbandaran Pengerang (MPP), led by YDP Mr. Norazmi bin Haji Amir Hamzah, focused on enhancing environmental awareness, exploring joint community programmes, and encouraging public participation. The MPP expressed strong support and interest in future collaboration on conservation activities in Pengerang.
We also met with SMK Adela ahead of onboarding the school into the marine awareness programme. The school expressed strong interest and support, reflecting growing awareness and engagement among education stakeholders in southern Johor.
RCM’s Don (right) meeting with YDP Mr. Norazmi bin Haji Amir Hamzah
RCM’s team (white and grey t-shirts) meeting with representative from SMK Adela
Education & Awareness Programmes
We conducted our third marine education session with SMK Pengerang Utama, building on students’ earlier participation in the International Coastal Cleanup. A total of 49 Form 4 students took part in a marine-themed sculpture competition, creating artworks from recyclable materials and marine debris to explore the impacts of waste and the importance of reuse. Teams presented their concepts and environmental messages, with sculptures judged on creativity, relevance, clarity, and stability. The completed artworks are now displayed in the school foyer to extend learning to the wider school community.
During the same quarter, a follow-up session was held at SK Kampung Baru Pasir Gogok to monitor the mangrove nursery established earlier in the year. Students inspected seedling growth, learned basic nursery care, explored the role of mangroves in coastal ecosystems, and participated in an interactive game on marine food webs.
Meanwhile, SMK Adela became the third school in southern Johor to join Reef Check Malaysia’s marine awareness programme. Students were introduced to coral reefs, seagrass meadows, and mangrove forests, with emphasis on their roles in supporting marine life and protecting coastlines. An interactive Nature Network Game helped illustrate how ecosystem connections weaken when one habitat is lost.
Grand prize winner of the sculpture presentation
Follow-up session on the mangrove nursery lesson
Checkout these stories
Wastewater Management on Islands: The Missing Link in Ocean Protection
We need to talk about sewage treatment on our islands… Sheesh. It gets difficult when even the scientists can’t agree!! I recently posted a question on a coral science list server. I was motivated to do this because there was an on-going “discussion” about the...
Beyond the Data: What We’ve Learned Through Policy Lens
For 17 years, Reef Check Malaysia (RCM) has been synonymous with coral reef health survey data. We built our reputation on being the ones in the water—clipboards in hand, counting indicator fish, invertebrates and assessing substrate types. Before long, the Department...
The 2025 Reef Check Survey Results and What They Mean for Our Coral Reefs
Let's Talk About Our Reefs I’m not sure I know how to do this anymore, to make it effective and impactful. It feels like every year I talk about the results of the annual surveys…but nothing seems to change. But here we go… Overview of the 2025 Reef Check Survey...