As a resident of Bandar Sri Damansara, I wish to highlight and honour an unsung hero in our community’s waste management system: Azmi Jamhari, the supervisor responsible for our area’s solid waste collection and overall cleanliness.
Azmi has been servicing the area since 2019 and has consistently demonstrated a level of commitment, efficiency and professionalism that is rare in any field, let alone one that is often invisible to the public eye.
While many only notice waste management when something goes wrong, we have come to appreciate how much goes right every day, largely because of him.
What sets Azmi apart is not just that he does his job well, but the manner in which he does it. He is an attentive, approachable and genuine person. Every complaint, every piece of feedback, no matter how small, is taken seriously.
He responds promptly, acts without fail, and follows through until the issue is resolved. In all my interactions with him, I have never once heard him say “cannot”.
Even when the matter raised falls outside his scope, he does not simply push it aside. Instead, he takes the initiative to refer it to the relevant authority, often Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ), and checks that action is taken.
This willingness to go beyond the boundaries of his job description reflects his deep sense of responsibility towards the residents.
As someone who has previously worked in the waste management industry, I understand how tough and thankless this line of work can be. Waste workers and supervisors operate behind the scenes, often in difficult conditions, with little public acknowledgement.
Many people rarely see the human being behind the uniform and the truck. I do, and in Azmi, I see a person who takes pride in his work and treats it as a service to the community, not just a routine job.
On April 1, 2011, Bandar Sri Damansara received the LA21 Best Township Award, where cleanliness was a key criterion.
More than a decade later, we are still proud to say that our township remains one of the cleanest in Petaling Jaya.
For this, a substantial share of the credit must go to people like Azmi who quietly ensure that standards do not slip.
We often talk about the need for integrity, diligence and service excellence in public-facing roles and Azmi embodies all these values.
In a world where complaints are more common than compliments, it is important to recognise such exemplary individuals.
It is my sincere hope that the waste management concessionaire, KDEB Waste Management Sdn Bhd will acknowledge and reward him for his sacrifice, dedication and outstanding performance.
Formal recognition, career advancement or a meaningful reward will not only honour his efforts but also send a strong message to all frontline workers that excellence in service does not go unnoticed.
Thank you, Azmi. Through your excellent and outstanding work, you make our township cleaner, safer and quite simply, you make us smile.
Ravindran Raman Kutty
Bandar Sri Damansara, Selangor
