For nearly 20 years, Zainuddin Bin Mat Basir has quietly kept Chinese High School (Batu Pahat) running smoothly, taking on everything from campus maintenance and water repairs to driving students and preparing examination halls.
His years of dedication and willingness to go beyond his duties have now earned him the 2026 4th Guo He Yao Spirit Award.
From army veteran to a trusted helping hand
A former military serviceman, Zainuddin joined Chinese High School nearly two decades ago and has since regarded the school as his “second home.”
Apart from his regular maintenance duties, he would often step in whenever the school needed an extra pair of hands.
He regularly leads workers in taking care of the school’s trees and landscaping, while also helping beautify the campus.
One of his biggest contributions has been dealing with the school’s long-standing water supply problems. He would help connect large water pipes, repair damaged ones and quickly locate leaks.
According to the school, his efforts have saved around RM4,000 to RM5,000 every month, amounting to more than RM50,000 a year.
He even camped at the field to keep wild boars away
Zainuddin has also played a role in keeping the campus safe, especially during major school events.
The school’s main field had previously been repeatedly damaged by wild boars. Ahead of sports day, Zainuddin once set up a tent and stayed at the field for two to three weeks to prevent the animals from damaging the grounds.
He also handles track marking before every sports day and repaints the basketball court every two years.
When monkeys began causing problems around the school, he even designed his own trap cage and worked with the school to contact the wildlife authorities.
School bus driver, exam hall cleaner and more
His contributions extend well beyond maintenance work.
For years, Zainuddin has also served as a school bus driver, waking up early to travel to Semerah to pick up students from areas without regular bus services. He also drives students to off-campus performances and teachers to training programmes outside Batu Pahat.
During UEC and SPM examinations, he takes responsibility for preparing and cleaning the examination halls.
He would arrive early to get the halls ready and stay behind after the examinations to clean up, often without needing anyone to remind him. His attention to detail has earned praise from examiners and teachers over the years.
Even on weekends and public holidays, Zainuddin would voluntarily help with the school’s waste-sorting efforts to keep the campus clean.
“If the school needs it, I’ll do my best”
From landscaping and fixing water pipes to guarding the sports field, driving students and preparing examination halls, Zainuddin has spent nearly two decades working with a simple attitude:
“If the school needs it, I’ll do my best.”
Chinese High School said his strong sense of responsibility, initiative and willingness to help have earned him the respect of teachers, staff and students.
The Guo He Yao Spirit Award honours the late Guo He Yao’s selfless contributions to Chinese education and recognises individuals in Chinese independent schools who demonstrate long-term dedication, professionalism and a spirit of service.
Zainuddin may not stand in front of a classroom, but his nearly 20 years of quiet work have made him an important part of the school community.
What makes Zainuddin’s story stand out is that he is a Malay staff member who has spent nearly two decades serving at a Chinese independent school. Over the years, his work has gone beyond his job title, allowing him to become a familiar and trusted part of the school community. His story is also a reminder that dedication to education can cross cultural and racial boundaries, you don’t have to be a teacher or share the same background to make a difference in a school. Sometimes, the people who keep a school going are the ones working quietly behind the scenes.
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