For some people, a higher salary may be the obvious choice.
But for 39-year-old L Jivanesan, better known as Uncle Jiva, staying close to his aging parents mattered more.
Jiva, who has worked as a security guard at Kolej Matrikulasi Pahang near Gambang, Kuantan for the past 23 years, said that while his salary is not high, it is enough for him to help support his family.
“I have stayed loyal to this job because I want to live with my mother and father, and take care of them as they grow older.”
Started with RM450 salary
According to Jiva, he initially tried applying for a security guard position at the college, but there were no vacancies at the time.
According to Harian Metro, he later tried again and was accepted after an opening became available.
During his first year, Jiva worked as a regular security guard and earned RM450 per month. The following year, he was appointed as the chief guard.
However, he admitted that being a security guard was not something he was interested in at first as the job can be stressful while dealing with all kinds of people.
“I chose to continue because I wanted to earn an honest living. I just treat everyone well, no matter how they treat me,” he said.
Chose parents over higher pay
At one point, Jiva was also invited by a friend to move to Singapore for work, where he was offered a much higher salary. However, he turned it down.
For Jiva, leaving his family behind was not an option as his mother has diabetes, while his father was getting older.
He said some people may see his job as ordinary, but the responsibility is actually huge.
There are many challenges, but it is also enjoyable because I get to meet and help all kinds of people.”
Still, the job is not easy as many have looked down on Jiva’s job in the past.
But he continues to hold on to his parents’ advice to work sincerely if he wants his earnings to be blessed.
He also said the job can be tiring as he sometimes only gets between one and five hours of sleep.
Well liked by students
Over the years, Jiva has become a familiar face on campus as has grown close to the campus community, especially students.
Jiva said he enjoys treating the students kindly because he sees them as his own children. They, in turn, encouraged him to record and share videos on TikTok.
Through his TikTok account, Jiva often shares safety tips and useful updates, not only for students, but also for their parents.
Jiva said he has never had any major issues with the students, with former students even returning to visit him.
He said throughout his 20 years working at the campus, one of the most unforgettable experiences was him helping to catch a thief, which later earned him an award from campus management.
‘Every job has its purpose’
As long as he remains healthy and has the strength, Jiva hopes to continue working as a security guard.
He also encouraged others who are interested in joining the field not to feel ashamed.
For anyone interested in working in this field, just do it. Do not be ashamed, and do the work sincerely.”
“I’d also like to remind the public not to look down on jobs like mine. If there there were no security guards, who would do this work?”
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