IPOH: While some may litter thoughtlessly, one man dutifully wakes up at 3am daily to clean up his neighbourhood.
Kamaruddin Ismail (pic) is not with the city council, but is a retiree who has been carrying out this task faithfully since 2010 – even after falling while sweeping the area in 2014 and undergoing knee surgery.
Armed with a broom, dustpan and trolley bin, the 66-year-old former Information Department supervisor cleans the pavement, roads and drains around his house in Taman Bersatu, Simpang Pulai, and his neighbours’ surroundings too.
The doting grandfather of 10 then cleans the neighbourhood field, community hall and surau.
“Since I was young, cleanliness has always played an important part in my life. I never liked to see a mess,” Kamaruddin told The Star at his home yesterday.
“Every morning I clean the area before I have my breakfast,” he said.
“People who don’t know me think I am a council worker and ask why I work on Sundays as well.”
Kamaruddin received a certificate of appreciation from the council in 2013 for his good deeds.
He said people littered the field at night, making it an eyesore in the morning. “I cannot stand to see the place dirty. If I want to exercise there, the field should be clean. How can you exercise with rubbish everywhere?
“Even a stray dog in the area has become my friend. I call him ‘Hitam’, because his fur is black, and I feel safe because he guards me,” he added.
Kamaruddin said his actions had created awareness among people in the area, who had started to take care of their own surroundings.
He said the headmistress of a nearby school once called him to give a talk about cleanliness after noticing him picking up ice-cream wrappers discarded by her pupils.
“I think some may feel ashamed. If an old man like me can take care of the area then they should take responsibility as well.
“There are even those who provide me with brooms, drinks and food after seeing me at work,” he said.
Wife Nor Aliah Mohd Hashim, 51, said even when travelling, Kamaruddin would stop the car and get down to pick up rubbish by the roadside.
“I am worried for his safety and always call to check on him.”
