What is the first word that comes to mind when a job of a cleaner is mentioned.
We doubt it will be the word “comfortable” but for Malaysian Shahrul Nizam Suhaimi, he uses it to describe being a cleaner in Singapore.
The 25-year-old tells Malaysian daily Harian Metro that him coming to our country to be a cleaner is “the best opportunity for [him]” and that he tries “to do the job well”.
The father-of-one has gained attention on TikTok where he regularly shares his experiences as a cleaner here.
In the interview, Shahrul says he has been working in Singapore for almost three years now. He previously ran his own food business in Johor before it shuttered.
“I decided to try my luck in Singapore, where my sister-in-law works, and worked in a restaurant before quitting,” he said.
Before working as a cleaner, he was unemployed for three to four months.
He now gets up at 5am daily to make the two-hour commute across the Causeway, and his job involves cleaning and tidying office spaces, gyms, and stairways.
He typically finishes work at 4pm, though sometimes works overtime until 7pm.
In the interview, he said that it him took some getting used to the job at the start. “I used to feel ashamed because of the stigma surrounding it, especially since I’m still young,” he said.
“So far, no one has ever looked down on me,” he continued, adding that many people share food, give tips, and always greet him.
“I’m not ashamed of my job, and here, cleaners are paid according to their qualifications,” he added.
Sharul also shared in the interview that he earns S$2,400 a month, including overtime. After converting that amount to ringgit, he brings back almost 8K ringgit, allowing his family, his wife and daughter, to live comfortably in Johor.
While his posts on TikTok have been popular with netizens, not all have been supportive, with some questioning his choice of occupation.
All we can say is, these keyboard warriors aren’t thinking of paying his bills, right?
However, Shahrul said their tune changes when they find out he is working in Singapore and start asking about job openings.
He also said that after he revealed he achieved 5As in his Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) exams eight years ago, many have asked why he hasn’t looked for a government job in Malaysia.
The SPM is equivalent to the GCE ‘O’ Levels here.
“As long as my income is ‘halal’, I don’t mind. People don’t know I have tried many times and gone to interviews but it wasn’t meant to be,” he told the Malaysian daily.
“I appreciate the opportunities Allah has given me. Although I couldn’t continue my studies due to financial problems, I’m grateful that I can now support my family and give my parents pocket money,” he added.