SHAH ALAM, Sept 28 ― A high-pressure water jetter sits idle under the morning sun at Taman Saga, Klang, as its operator checks the equipment one final time before the day's work begins.
The machine looks ordinary, the same kind used for drain cleaning across Selangor. Yet the difference lies in the men behind it, whose work goes beyond operating equipment to confronting the daily realities of waste management.
“You need guts to do this job. You have to be brave enough to face people and deal with any of their complaints on waste collection,” said KDEB Waste Management Sdn Bhd (KDEBWM) site supervisor Ahmad Zakuwan Ismail to Media Selangor during the Selangor Local Council World Clean Up Day 2025 yesterday.
At 30, Zakuwan, fondly known as Ben by his peers, has spent the last eight years ensuring Klang's streets remain clean. The job has taught him the delicate art of community relations.
Like every other day, he is here to serve, even when the community does not always understand what that service entails. For Ben and his team at KDEBWM, waste management is far more complex than most Malaysians realise.
They maintain drainage systems, clear blocked waterways, and respond to community complaints, a responsibility that peaks every Monday after the Sunday collection break.
“Monday is always the heaviest day for complaints because we do not do domestic waste collection on Sundays. Garbage accumulates, quantities are high, so we have to meet with residents and explain the situation.
“Eventually, they understand,” he said.
KDEBWM is tasked with managing waste statewide in Selangor. While the company’s main duty involves daily waste collection, it also has other responsibilities, like handling industrial waste, in cooperation with all 12 local authorities.
Ben sees his role as a noble profession, one where his work has an immediate impact on the lives of the communities he serves.
"People always misunderstand when we say we work in KDEBWM. They think we only collect trash. But actually, this is noble work.
“We do cleaning, we maintain cleanliness. It is essentially a form of public service, and we help the people,” he said.
However, Ben admits that the challenge arises when residents request services that fall beyond their official responsibilities.
"If it is something small, we can help, but if it happens regularly, people will think that is our actual job," he said, adding that the company often compromises to assist local residents.
Pride in a dirty job
Meanwhile, Mohd Hisham Sahayat works 20 days a month — with backup days set aside for equipment maintenance — operating the catch basin cleaner (CBC) with the methodical precision of someone who takes pride in his craft.
At 51, he has found purpose in work that allows him to return home each evening, unlike his previous career driving heavy machinery over long distances.
"My main responsibility is the CBC," Hisham said, proudly tapping the side of the vehicle, the machine that vacuum-sucks debris from blocked drains.
"It has been under my care for the last three years. For me, every day, I follow the cleaning schedule, head to the designated locations, and make sure the job gets done properly,” he said.
Hisham views his work through the lens of community service, finding meaning in it despite the job being classified as one of the 3D occupations (dirty, difficult, and dangerous).
"For work like this, there is no need to feel ashamed. Every job has its worthwhile returns.
“Some people feel embarrassed because the work involves trash, drains, and such. That is everyone's individual perspective.
“For me, it is honest work. I get to go home on time most days, so I am really grateful,” he said.
Where Hisham’s CBC truck goes, a high-pressure water jetter follows — the two machines working in tandem. The jetter loosens stubborn blockages, while the CBC vacuums up the debris that is then sent to the landfill.
While he operates the CBS, Abdul Razak Tapa, 56, is the man behind the water jetter. He handles it with the no-nonsense approach of someone who has encountered every challenge in the book.
Since joining the company three years ago, Razak has learned that the toughest obstacles often come from an unexpected source.
“The worst is when restaurants dump waste directly into drains. Once it hardens, it becomes like concrete, almost impossible to blast through,” he said.
When standard equipment is insufficient, Razak and his colleagues resort to manual methods, often climbing down into manholes and drains to remove the gunk themselves and keep the water flowing.
Another major challenge arises in residential areas, where residents have sealed over drains with concrete, leaving KDEBWM with no choice but to break through to access the waste.
“If stones, wood, or large objects fall in, the jetter cannot penetrate, unlike with sand or grease. However, if it is severely blocked, we must do it manually.
"It is one of those challenges where we have to engage with local communities to make them understand what we have to do. But we are happy to do it,” he said.
