‘Uncle Kittu’ says letter from pupils brought him back to work

 

“Uncle Kittu” surrounded by pupils of SK Bandar Baru Putera on his last day at work in December. (Bernama pic)

IPOH: A heart-wrenching letter from pupils of SK Bandar Baru Putera here was why security guard K. Kittu, 50, affectionately known as “Uncle Kittu”, doubled back for duty at the primary school on Jan 1.

Kittu, who was supposed to move to a new place of work at the end of last year, said he was exhilarated when he saw the overjoyed faces at school when he was reunited with the schoolchildren after his surprise comeback.

“My son had also pleaded with me, saying ‘Dad, just go to work there’. The students also wrote things like ‘Uncle don’t go’ and ‘Uncle work here’,” he said.

“I read the letters, which got me teary-eyed, so I decided to go back and work there,” the father of four from Taiping said today.

Kittu’s relationship with the schoolchildren, the majority of whom are Malay, brought him to prominence when he was showered with gifts and affection on his departure last month.

A 70-second video clip had gone viral showing the students of the school sadly hugging Kittu and presenting him with gifts at a farewell party organised by the school.

Kittu said when he returned to duty at the school on Jan 1, the children 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 returning to guard duty.

“They called 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 because if I am there, I tell the kids to wait at the hut before I stop the traffic for them,” said the guard of his road-crossing vigilance.

Kittu said he was to have relocated to a school in Klebang here because he had moved house to the Klebang Restu area, but that did not materialise.

Kittu’s wait to find a new location for security guard work was finally answered at the end of last year when he received a call from SK Bandar Baru Putera to return to work there till the end of 2024.

He said teachers at the school had also agreed that Kittu be reinstated 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 he is 60. - FMT