Local documentary highlights lives of night soil workers in Penang

Producer Lee Cheah Ni says the objective of the Purge: Documenting The Labours of Penang’s Night Soil Workers project is to tell the story and raise awareness on the contributions of the workers, whose jobs may not be glamorous but was vital in ensuring the city functioned. Photos: The Star/Chan Boon Kai

What happens to human waste after one pushes the flush button or lever following the completion of their business in the toilet is not something most Malaysians would think about.

With the ready availability of modern sewage systems to quickly channel the icky stuff out of sight and out of mind, we don’t really have to think about it.