'Uncle Kittu' back to his old post after receiving heartfelt letters from pupils

A file picture of security guard Kittu (centre) at his farewell. - Bernama

IPOH: Heart-wrenching letters from pupils saying how much they miss him is why security guard K. Kittu, 50, or more affectionately known as "Uncle Kittu", is back at his old post at SK Bandar Baru Putera here.

Kittu, who was supposed to move to a new place of work, said he was exhilarated when he saw the overjoyed faces of pupils when he made his surprise comeback when school reopened on Jan 1, 2024.

He had previously said he would be working at another school as he had moved house to the Klebang Restu area.

"(Before this) my son also pleaded with me, saying: 'Dad, just go to work there (SK Bandar Baru Putera). The students also wrote things like 'uncle, don't go' and 'uncle, work here'.

"I read the letter which got me teary-eyed, so I decided to go back," the father of four from Taiping told Bernama on Friday (Jan 5).

On Dec 5, Bernama reported how cultural differences were not a barrier for Kittu to forge endearing relationships with SK Bandar Baru Putera pupils, the majority of whom are Malays.

A one-minute, 13-second video had gone viral on social media showing pupils hugging and bidding goodbye to Kittu and showering him with gifts at a farewell party organised by the school.

Kittu said when he returned to duty on Jan 1, the pupils made him promise never to leave them again.

He was also very moved by the parent-teachers association of the school which voted in favour of him to return.

"They called me and asked me to work here again. Some people said things were 'a bit haywire' without me when their children want to cross the street after school.

"If I am there, I tell the kids to wait at the hut before I stop the traffic for them," he said.

According to him, teachers at the school also agreed for Kittu to be reinstated as the security guard because of his unblemished record in looking after the school children.

"The teachers here also like (the way I work). I feel very happy because I was once a truck driver before I broke my arm and could not do heavy work.

"When I started work at this school and saw the students respecting me, I knew I was to stay on as a security guard," said Kittu who declared he will carry on as a security guard until the ripe old age of 60. – Bernama