KUALA LUMPUR, 20 September 2026

Kavida was recently presented with the 2026 Special Care Contribution Award at the Majlis Apresiasi Pekerja Pembersihan organised by SWCorp Malaysia, in recognition of her unwavering dedication and years of service.

For Kavida, however, her greatest achievement is seeing her children succeed in their respective careers. She shared that when she was younger, she had aspired to become a nurse. However, after marrying at the age of 16, she was unable to pursue that dream. Today, she takes pride in seeing her eldest daughter fulfil that aspiration by becoming a nurse, describing it as the continuation of a dream she once held dearly.

While her children have always been proud of their mother, Kavida has also received significant recognition for her own contributions. In addition to receiving the award, her inspiring story recently caught the attention of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim. On 19 August, the Prime Minister took to social media to congratulate Kavida, commending her years of hard work and sacrifice, and praising her five children for their achievements in their respective professions.

He also expressed his appreciation to Kavida and sanitation workers across the country for their invaluable role in maintaining public cleanliness and contributing to the well-being of society. The Prime Minister wished them continued strength, good health, and the recognition they truly deserve.

Kavida: I do noble work

Reflecting on the recognition, Kavida admitted that there were times when she felt envious seeing her colleagues receive awards for their outstanding performance. However, rather than discouraging her, those moments motivated her to work even harder. She always believed that her time would come.

For the past 12 years, Kavida has faithfully carried out her duties, beginning work at 7.30 a.m. and finishing at 4.30 p.m. each day with discipline, commitment, and responsibility.

“For me, this is a noble profession. Even though I am a cleaning worker, this job enabled me to raise my children and provide them with a better future,” she said.

Today, Kavida’s children have built successful careers of their own. Her eldest daughter, Barati, works as a nurse in Singapore. 
Her second daughter, Hema, is a flight attendant, while her third daughter, Santia, is a teacher. Her youngest daughter, Priyadasni, has become a pilot.

Her son, Yumaraj, who is a person with disabilities (OKU), also works at SWM Environment alongside his mother.

“It makes me incredibly happy to see my children enjoying a better life than I had,” she said.

Kavida’s story previously went viral on social media through a touching video created for her 50th birthday. In the video, her five children surprised her by wearing uniforms representing their respective professions—pilot, flight attendant, nurse, and teacher as a tribute to her sacrifices. Overcome with emotion, Kavida was moved to tears.

Today, she proudly shares her latest achievement with her children.

“For many years, I have celebrated my children’s accomplishments. Now that I have been recognised for my own efforts, being able to share this honour with them is the most meaningful reward of all,” she said.

Earlier, Minister of Housing and Local Government YB Nga Kor Ming commended the recipients of the 2026 Outstanding Cleaning Worker Award and announced that  seven award recipients would be nominated to receive state honours from their respective Rulers in recognition of their long-standing contributions to society.  Kavida was among those selected.

Remembering Her Grandmother’s Advice: Responsibility Leads to Recognition

Another recipient recognised at the Majlis Apresiasi Pekerja Pembersihan was Jonice Amud, a 46-year-old Temuan indigenous sanitation worker.

Since joining SWM Environment 12 years ago, Jonice has progressed from a frontline worker in the solid waste collection unit to becoming a team leader 
in the drain cleaning unit.

A father of four, Jonice said his greatest motivation has never been awards, but rather the ability to provide for his family and ensure his wife and children enjoy a stable and comfortable life. He also expressed gratitude for the company’s benefits, including a stable income, housing assistance, social security protection, annual leave, and medical coverage.

Jonice recalled the advice his grandmother gave him when he was 20 years old: to be responsible, sincere, and committed in everything he does. Those words have guided him throughout his life.

Before joining SWM Environment, he worked on his family’s rubber plantation as a rubber tapper and later took on jobs as a security guard and gardener. He eventually joined the company in 2014 through a friend’s recommendation.

For nine years, Jonice operated compactor trucks before being transferred to the drain cleaning unit due to health considerations. Today, he supervises ditch and drain cleaning operations.

Although the work is physically demanding and often requires cleaning narrow and poorly lit drains, Jonice remains committed to ensuring waste is removed safely and water flows smoothly.

Notably, he received the company’s Outstanding Employee Award just one year after joining, in 2015. Despite this achievement, Jonice said awards have never been his ultimate goal.

“For me, the most important thing is to do my job well, follow instructions, and fulfil my responsibilities to the best of my ability,” he said.