Written and Translated by: Nur Fazrini Alia Abd Majid 

Edited by: Suziana Che Wil 

Serdang, October 10 – The Alumni Relations Centre of Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) successfully conducted an exclusive interview with Cikgu Hashimi Ismail, an environmental activist and proud UPM alumnus of the Classes of 1993 and 1997, who currently serves as the Headmaster of Sekolah Kebangsaan Teris, Hulu Terengganu, Terengganu. The interview was part of the documentation process for the upcoming Serdang Sun Alumni Magazine Issue 26 (2025 Edition).

During the session, Cikgu Hashimi shared his journey as both an educator and a passionate environmental advocate. Since 2017, he has been actively involved with Geng Plastik Hijau, a volunteer group committed to cleaning and conserving coastal areas across Terengganu.

He has also participated in turtle conservation programmes since 2001 around Pulau Redang and Kemaman, and later took on a leadership role as the Chairman of the Khazanah Rakyat Ma’Daerah Association (MEKAR) — a non-governmental organisation (NGO) based in Kertih that promotes awareness and conservation of turtle habitats through community engagement involving fishermen, civil servants, students, and local entrepreneurs.

In addition, Cikgu Hashimi was once a member of the “Sahabat Raja Rimba” in Merapoh, Pahang, a volunteer group dedicated to forest and wildlife conservation. He emphasised that education plays a vital role in shaping environmental awareness among the younger generation. As an educator, he advocates using positive terms such as “eco-friendly” instead of “non-eco-friendly” to nurture appreciation and responsibility towards the environment from an early age.

The Alumni Relations Centre of UPM extends its sincere appreciation to Cikgu Hashimi for his time, insights, and dedication. His contributions as an activist and alumnus truly reflect the enduring Putra spirit of “With Knowledge, We Serve.”

Date of Input: 27/10/2025 | Updated: 27/10/2025 | ainnanabilah