M'sian street sweeper, 50, who still works by choice gets birthday surprise from her 4 daughters, pilot, nurse, SIA cabin crew & teacher

A Malaysian woman who has worked as a street sweeper for over 12 years was moved to tears on her 50th birthday when her four daughters surprised her at work.

They each were dressed in their professional uniforms as a pilot, nurse, Singapore Airlines cabin crew member and teacher.

The heartwarming moment was captured in a video shared by The Chindian Diaries on Facebook, which has since gone viral.

M Kavitha works at SWM Environment, a waste management company in Seremban, Malaysia earning RM1,800 (S$568.76) a month. Despite her children's success, she continues to work by choice.

When asked why she still works in her 50s instead of letting her children take care of her, Kavitha said:

"It's not like that my dear, it's good to be independent. Each child has their own life. I'm just 50, there are people who still work in their 70s."

She added:"I'm doing this work with my full heart."

A month in the making

The surprise was organised by her daughter L Bharathi and her siblings over about a month, according to New Straits Times (NST).

The idea came from Bharathi's younger sister Santhia, 29, during a conversation among the siblings about what would make the most meaningful birthday gift for their mother.

Bharathi told NST: "We knew no material gift could ever repay Amma for everything she has sacrificed. We wanted to give her something that wasn't valuable because of its price, but because of the happiness it would bring her."

Bharathi also shared that their mother had once expressed a wish to see their youngest sibling surprise her at work in a pilot's uniform, a dream they were able to fulfil on her 50th birthday.

The biggest challenge, Bharathi said, was coordinating schedules as some siblings are based in Singapore and Langkawi, while also ensuring Kavitha remained unaware of the plan and was working as usual on the day.

"Her sacrifices inspired us"

Kavitha has spent more than 12 years working as a street sweeper alongside her husband, a painter, to give their children a better future.

The family has five children in total, her son works at the same company as Kavitha.

Bharathi told NST: "Since we were young, we watched Amma work under the scorching sun and in the rain without ever complaining. Her sacrifices inspired us to study hard, work hard and change our family's life."

The moment she turned around

During the surprise, an interviewer was asking Kavitha questions about her work and family. When asked what her children were doing, she answered without knowing they were standing behind her.

She said:

"All my kids are in good positions. My first child is a nurse, the second one is a stewardess at Singapore Airlines. The third one is a government high school teacher, fourth one is a boy working with me, and my last daughter, she is a pilot."

When asked what she would do if her children were there with her right now, she replied: "They're working right now, why would they be here."

The interviewer then told her to turn around. She found her four daughters waiting behind her in their uniforms and was immediately overcome with emotion, embracing each of them.

"One of the most precious memories of my life"

Kavitha told NST that the surprise made every hardship feel worthwhile.

She said: "I'm grateful because all the hard work and sacrifices I made raising my children felt worthwhile that day. It is one of the most precious memories of my life."