PASSING by the Sultan Abdul Samad building, you never would have thought of the sweat and sacrifice of one man who has spent most of his life keeping the famous clock on the historic landmark ticking.

Dedication would be an understatement when it comes to describing Kunasegaran Velliah’s work for the past 40 years.

Five times a week – Monday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday - the 59-year-old would climbs four flights of steep stairs up the clock tower to wind the mechanical clock, which was made in 1897, and its bell.

The bell is located on the third level of the tower while the engine of the clock is located in a small room on the fourth level.

“I am the only one who knows how to take care of the clock and the only one with the keys to access the tower. So, even when I’m on leave, I will still come in and wind the clock,” he said.

Kunasegaran takes an hour to wind the bell 320 times and he would place a weight to lock the gears and stop the pendulum before winding the clock 28 times.

With more than 40 years of caring for it, Kunasegaran has built a strong bond with the clock. However, that relationship will come to an end soon when he retires next year.

Kunasegaran is worried on who will take over his job.

“No one is interested in taking over as it involves a lot of manual labour. Sometimes, I lie awake in bed thinking about the fate of the clock,” he said.

He said the last he heard was that the Tourism and Culture Ministry, which owned the building, would tender contracts to contractors to take care of the clock.

““I only hope that the clock is kept alive and not left unattended. The clock can easily last for another 100 to 200 years if it is properly cared for,” he said.