'Why should I care what people think?' After dropping out of ITE, 22-year-old finds purpose as waste collector

One man’s waste is another man’s livelihood.

To some, it may be dirty, thankless work. But to 22-year-old Muhamad Danial Aiman Abdul Muttalib, it is an honest day's work.

While his peers are starting out in corporate careers or furthering their studies, Muhamad Danial has chosen a different path: working as a waste collector, Berita Harian (BH) reported on Wednesday (Aug 12).

The eldest of three siblings sees the job both as an honest source of income and an opportunity to turn his life around.

"I had dropped out of the Institute of Technical Education (ITE), and my performance during National Service (NS) was also not very good," Muhamad Danial told BH.

After years of feeling that he had let his mother down, he said he is finally able to show her that he is capable of making a change.

'Why should I care what people think?'

Muhamad Danial shared a glimpse of his daily work routine as a waste collector recently on TikTok, using the popular 'day in my life' format.

He has been working at waste management company 800 Super for five months.

Before joining the company, he struggled to find employment and worked as a GrabFood delivery rider, he told BH.

The video was intended to give people a better understanding of what his job entails, he said.

As of Thursday afternoon, the post had garnered over 108,000 views.

"I entered this industry by chance after a friend invited me to attend an interview," he told BH.

He added that as long as it was "a source of honest income", he was willing to take on the job. 

He usually starts work between 7am and 8am and is assigned to areas around Pasir Ris and Tampines, near his home, he told BH.

The job comes with its own set of challenges.

Rain or shine, the work must go on, he said.

He also has to deal with negative perceptions some people have of waste collection work. 

For Muhamad Danial, however, earning an honest living matters more than other people's opinions.

"People can say whatever they want. I know what I am doing is not wrong," he said. 

"Why should I care what people think when I am earning a living honestly?"

Netizens applaud his determination

Many online praised Muhamad Danial for his attitude towards his work.

"I may not know you but respect to you," wrote one commenter.

"Thumbs up! Not everyone is willing to do rubbish-clearing work," said another netizen, adding that without workers such as Muhamad Danial, the neighbourhoods would be full of rubbish.

Another netizen wrote: "Every job is a good job when [you] do it with love." 

AsiaOne has reached out to Muhamad Danial for more information.

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helmy.saat@asiaone.com