The Young Man Who Embraced The 'Dirty' Job To Support His Family

KUANTAN, March 6 (Bernama) -- For most people, the words "embarrassing, filthy, and foul-smelling" would be enough to steer clear of a job.

But for Wan Othman Wan Mohd Nor Hasyim, those feelings have long been immunised. Working as a garbage collector for Alam Flora Sdn Bhd for over four years, the 23-year-old has not only grown accustomed to the stigma but has transformed it into a source of quiet pride.

"When I first started in 2021 at 18, the smell was so bad it felt stuck in my nose. But after a while, I just got used to it. Now, I don't even notice it," Wan Othman told reporters in Kuantan.

For Wan Othman, the night shift from 9 pm to 6 am is not just a job; it is a way to share the family burden with his father, a fellow cleaner at Alam Flora.

Some may see it as just a dirty job, but for Wan Othman, it is how he supports his three school-aged siblings, aged 12, 15, and 16. To make ends meet, he also works part-time at a restaurant during the day.

"Some people look down on this work. That's up to them, but for me, this job has brought nothing but positive impact," he said with quiet resolve. 

He shared that the hardest part of the job is not the smell or the late nights. It is the people.

The young man admits that one of the biggest challenges he faces comes from residents who scatter rubbish in front of their own homes, making an already tough job even harder.

"Some homeowners actually get angry at us. They claim we don’t collect the garbage properly, or they demand we clean the area in front of their houses," he said.

He does not deny that there have been arguments between him and a few residents who expected services beyond his job description, like hosing down the front of their properties. But for every rude encounter, there are moments of kindness that restore his faith.

He smiles as he recalls the residents who treat him like a human being. "Many people are really good to us. They give us drinks and food while we're collecting rubbish in their neighborhoods,” he said. 

At 21, Wan Othman is already thinking about the future. He hopes to build a long career with the company and one day move up to become a lorry driver.

Meanwhile, Alam Flora's Kuantan district operations executive, Khairul Hajrin Khairuddin, shared that Wan Othman, who works as a general worker, is one of 10 young employees aged between 18 and 23.

"This job requires young, energetic workers, which is why we recruit new hires up to the age of 35," he explained.

He added that the district currently has 154 garbage collectors ranging from 18 to 56 years old. On average, they collect about 24 tonnes of waste per night using three lorries during the night shift, while another 400 tonnes are collected by 50 lorries during the day. 

Khairul Hajrin also noted that in developed countries, garbage collectors are often regarded as essential and respected workers who play a vital role in maintaining cleanliness and sustainability.

-- BERNAMA