Coca-Cola and Ocean Cleanup turn the spotlight on Klang River waste

Coca-Cola Malaysia has unveiled "Voices of the Klang" ("Seruan hati Klang"), a short documentary film spotlighting its ongoing partnership with The Ocean Cleanup, Selangor Maritime Gateway and local partners to combat plastic pollution in the Klang River. The campaign film was launched in September following Malaysia’s Independence Day, tying into the theme of collective responsibility for the nation’s waterways.

At the heart of the story is The Interceptor, a solar-powered vessel that removes waste from the river before it reaches the ocean. The collected waste is then processed at a new sorting facility, financially supported by Coca-Cola, to ensure plastics and other materials are given a second life.

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The company told A+M, the campaign aimed to not just show progress but to amplify the voices of communities along the river who are directly affected by pollution. A Coca-Cola Malaysia spokesperson said the film captures “how collaboration has helped to restore ecosystems, protect biodiversity, and improve the lives of communities along its banks,” while also inviting Malaysians to recycle and join the effort. The campaign was created in collaboration with WPP Studio X and Panggung Studios.

The four-minute film sits on Coca-Cola Malaysia’s website, while shorter trailers are being pushed across Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Omnia and cinema screens. A special screening was also held at GSC Mid Valley after Malaysia Day, alongside campaign partners and members of the media. The initiative is part of Coca-Cola’s broader regional partnership with The Ocean Cleanup across Southeast Asia, which also covers projects in Thailand and Vietnam.

The film opens on a sombre note, with news-style footage of the Klang River choked by plastic waste and voiceovers warning that its waters are no longer safe, and that it has become a major source of ocean pollution. From there, the narrative shifts to human stories, beginning with a fisherman who has lived in Klang for 13 years. He recalls how the river once yielded large fish, but now even small catches are scarce.

The film also spotlights local researchers studying the river’s wildlife, as well as the teams working with The Interceptor™ and at the plastic recycling centre. By weaving these perspectives together, the documentary places viewers in the shoes of those most closely tied to the river, urging reflection on how a single discarded bottle can ripple out to affect livelihoods, wildlife, and the broader ecosystem. Yet despite the challenges, the people interviewed remain hopeful that the river can one day be restored, and they are placing their faith in that future.

Behind the lens, local director Sarah Lois Dorai shared how she approached the project. “The brief from the start was to document the state of the Klang River and the work being done to restore it, in an authentic and truthful way,” she told A+M, adding that she felt both fortunate and intimidated by the trust given to her team to tell the story.

Her creative direction was guided by one central question: “If the Klang River had a voice, what would it say?” Dorai explained that this perspective shifted the responsibility back to audiences, highlighting how nature cannot speak for itself. This concept shaped both the narrative and the visuals of the film. Interviews were shot up close and casually, with imagery of the river’s pollution placed deliberately in viewers’ line of sight. “The trash is often right in your face because we want your attention. We have looked away for far too long,” she noted.

For Dorai, the importance of the project lay in spotlighting the people on the ground who are working to make a difference. “As filmmakers we have a unique opportunity to highlight the amazing groundwork being done through a medium that has the potential to move people into action,” she said. “We wanted to ensure it was their voices in the end that shone through, and our artistry simply acts as a tool to convey them.”

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