Digest on Malaysian News

South African has made his millions leaving a salaried job to clean the “world’s toilets”

SIBU: You can become a millionaire by cleaning toilets.

At least, this is the message from Trevor Mulaudzi, a professional toilet cleaner from Johannesburg, South Africa who made a fortune from washing loos.

In his professional and business circles, he is popularly known as “Dr Sh*t” for his passion to free the world from human-waste pollution.

Speaking to reporters at the office of Deputy Minister of Housing and Local Government Datuk Robert Lau Hoi Chew here, Mulaudzi, who was by accompanied Sibu Toilet Council chairman Cr Robert Lau Hui Yew, said: “How I got into the profession and business of cleaning toilets was indeed strange.

“One day in 1996 (still the Apartheid era), I passed by a “Black” school where many students were crowding outside.

“I stopped my car and angrily ordered the students to get back into their school compound and attend classes.

“From among the crowd appeared a frightened schoolgirl who pleaded with me to let her find a toilet first.

“When I ordered her to use her school toilet, I was shocked when she answered back and told me all the school toilets were very dirty … full of human waste and unfit for use.”

“Refusing to believe her, I went to the school to check, and was shocked to find ‘mountains’ of human waste inside all the toilets.

“When the school principal allowed me to clean the toilets, I labouriously scooped up all the waste and repaired the damages and blockages.

“What was strange was that while on the job, I felt a calling to clean the toilets of the world.”

Mulaudzi said he decided to quit his highly-paid job as chief geologist with a big mining company to venture into the unseemly toilet-cleaning business.

The 50-year-old is a qualified mining engineer who now owns McTrev Consultancy CC (The Clean Shop), South Africa, set up in June 1996 with only four workers but now employs 208.

He is also actively involved with the World Toilet Organisation (WTO) and has travelled extensively to promote the culture of “respecting your own toilet”.

In fact, according to Mulaudzi, it was his many encounters with Datuk Lau, also chairman of the National Toilet Cleanliness Committee (NTCC) under his ministry, that prompted him to come and have a first-hand look at the toilet conditions in Malaysia, particularly Sibu.

At this juncture, Datuk Lau interjected to say: “Among others, we met in Belfast, Moscow and Bangkok at World Toilet Organisation meetings and conferences.”

Mulaudzi chipped in: “I believe in action and ‘the real thing’ not empty talks and resolutions.

“That’s why I travelled down here first … before making a practical presentation at your National Toilet Expo and Forum (NATEF) 2007 in early August.”

Datuk Lau confirmed Mulaudzi would be a key speaker at the forum, a high-profile event initiated by NTCC, organised by the Quality Restroom Association Malaysia (QRAM) and hosted by the Sibu Municipal Council (SMC) here from Aug 9 to 12.

He revealed his committee and ministry would also conduct roadshows to promote toilet cleanliness nationwide towards the later part of the year.

“We will conduct a toilet audit throughout the country before calling on all the 144 local councils to Kuala Lumpur for a briefing on the roadshows on July 5,” Lau said, adding that he would call for another press conference specially on NATEF 2007.

On his many successes, Mulaudzi revealled his company’s latest major contract was sealed in April to clean the campus of University of Venda, South Africa, at Rand 500,000 (RM250,000) per month.
“I made a report on the university’s situation, including dirty and damaged toilets.

“The management challenged me to clean them up and it took me 10 weeks to finish the first round.

“The conditions deteriorated after they stop engaging me … so they decided to rehire me on monthly basis at a very attractive price of half-a-million Rand per month,” Mulaudzi said tongue-in-cheek.

Meanwhile Datuk Lau gave this parting advice to toilet owners and users in Malaysia “Please adopt three basics approaches for a clean toilet - first, clean the toilet, secondly, use the toilet exclusively as for easing yourself (not as a store or for any other things)and thirdly, business owners should allocate a toilet caretaker or cleaner for each toilet.”

Source: http://www.theborneopost.com/?p=20218 (Jun 23, 2007)

MD says:

I admit Malaysian sucks at keeping the toilet clean. But do we need an outsider to remind us how to keep the toilet clean. Whatever happen to our education system or parental guidance ?

Shouldn't the Minister of Housing and Local Government be more concern with other issues like proper approval of housing plan and safety ? Or plan for better road system and other infrastructure for housing estates ?

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