61yo M’sian Honoured With Award For Keeping Penang Hill Clean, Says Job Is Satisfying

Not all heroes wear capes, some of them hold broomsticks and keeps our streets clean! 

The hero that keeps Penang Hill clean, P. Sanmuggam, received a PJM (Pingat Jasa Masyarakat) to honour his service as a cleaner from Penang’s governor, wrote the Star.

Every morning, the man – who has worked for Penang Island City Council (MBPP) for 39 years – takes the funicular train up the hill to clean the popular peak so that the visitors for the day can have a “pleasant visit”. The 61-year-old was quoted as saying,

“I take the 6.30am train and arrive at the peak at about 7am before starting my work, which comprises sweeping the floor and emptying the dustbins.”

“It may seem like a tiring job as I finish only at 6pm, but the satisfaction from the job is worth it.”

Well, we are glad that he enjoys his job very much! 

Apart from Sanmuggam, seven other MBPP workers and three Seberang Prai Municipal Council (MPSP) workers also received the PJM award for their contribution in 3D (dirty, dangerous and difficult) jobs.

Source: the star

According to the MPSP president Datuk Rozali Mohamud, workers from the council’s Crisis Management Department are the “frontline force” that rushes to any of three districts on Penang mainland if a disaster has taken place. Datuk Rozali elaborated,

“If there is a flood or storm, these workers are the first to be deployed to clear the floodgates and remove fallen trees.”

“There are 150 of them in the Special Squad under the department and in the future, the council will be setting up offices in each district to improve on response time and effectiveness.”

The next (second) day, seven people received the DPGN (Darjah Gemilang Pangkuan Negeri) award, which gives the awardee the title of Datuk Seri. One of the recipients was the president of Malaysia Buddhist Association, Datuk Steven Ooi Teik Heng, and he said,

“I thank the state for conferring the award and recognising my over 40 years of contribution to society.”

If you didn’t know, the 64-year-old is also Kek Lok Si Temple’s trustee and Kek Lok Si Welfare Hospital’s director. 

Steven ooi is in the centre | source: the star

On the other hand, another person received the DMPN (Darjah Yang Mulia Pangkuan Negeri) and 12 people received the Darjah Setia Pangkuan Negeri (DSPN) – both of which carry the title of Datuk. Besides that, other awards were also given out, and they are listed below:

• 13 Darjah Johan Negeri (DJN)
• 10 Bintang Cemerlang Negeri (BCN)
• 22 Pingat Kelakuan Terpuji (PKT)
• 70 Pingat Jasa Kebaktian (PJK)
• 86 Pingat Jasa Masyarakat (PJM)
• 8 Pingat Bakti Setia (PBS)

Nice! 

All in all, we thank Sanmuggam for his service on Penang Hill, and we congratulate all the other recipients who received an award from the state.

Also read: Two Drivers Receive Awards From Negeri Sembilan’s Yang Di-Pertuan Besar For Their Service