TOILET, WHEN YOU NEED IT, IT BETTER BE CLEAN

Tuesday, 1 September 2009

TOILET, WHEN YOU NEED IT, IT BETTER BE CLEAN

The title of this month’s article says what I have in mind. How many times have we gone to a shopping centre and the need to go to the toilet has been a horrible experience? I would think most times. The toilet facility is the least of the concerns of most shopping centres. In school, in college and in university, this is really the worst place on earth in my time.
I have been to some school toilets recently and the situation has not changed. It is quite amazing when one thinks how schools have evolved and improved in their facilities just as shopping centres have renovated their premises but the toilets are still ill maintained.
The A(H1N1) situation in Malaysia is worrisome. I have yet to see any concrete effort or campaign in places of education and in shopping centres to help keep people informed. Dirty toilets can be breeding grounds for many diseases.
Schools need to have better toilets. The reason is obvious. A healthy environment starts at home but in schools we seem to have a lesser deal. In my schooling days, going to the school toilet was an ordeal if you need to use the cubicle. I am sure if a boy was to find that difficult, the girls would surely find it more troublesome.
At most schools, the cleaners are the same people who are also the odd job personnel. Many schools have limited funds to clean up their premises and also to do some other jobs around the school. If one notices, most school toilets also have poor ventilation, leaking facilities and most often than not no liquid soap.
The lack of hygiene, ventilation, bright lightings and proper facilities is quite alarming. Colleges and universities are very similar. With so many students and frequent use, I cannot understand why toilets have not found its place to evolve and improve like those in some shopping centres.
In fact, I think that those responsible for the design and those responsible for helming the school must ensure that the toilet facilities are clean.
In Singapore, there is an ongoing effort to ensure toilets are clean and welcoming. The use of natural lighting as well as greenery is quite laudable. There is no need to look far as I have seen in some of our very own highway rest areas where the toilets are remarkably well designed and maintained.
I am quite proud that in Subang Jaya, the 2 main shopping centres have won accolades for toilet design. Sunway Pyramid was awarded with gold in the National Toilet Award in 2008 whilst Subang Parade obtained 3rd place in the same competition when it was first created in 2006, making it the first shopping centre in Subang Jaya to be recognized. I wonder when Summit USJ, Digital Mall at USJ19 and the new entrants of Empire Gallery and Subang Avenue will do us proud.
I also noticed that MPSJ has an ongoing toilet cleanliness competition running from April 2009 till September 2009. It would be interesting to see who the winners for public toilets are. Perhaps MPSJ should also organize one for schools, colleges and universities?
In fact, looking at the shopping centres, it would be good if the schools also consider the use of sensor taps to avoid water wastage and ultimately, the non-touch relation to hygiene. Perhaps toilets in schools can be with mixed squats and seating types. The seating covers should be cleaned frequently.
Natural ventilation is always good as with natural lighting. Perhaps toilet facilities should to turned “green”, just like Sunway Pyramid’s “green” urinals. I thought that that was a brilliant idea to have a waterless urinal. But the smell emitting from the urinal is getting bad at last check.
Perhaps it is time that we all go back to basics and teach ourselves and our children the importance of hygiene and the need for clean and welcoming toilet facilities in public places. This should be part of the master plan for MPSJ and the local councilors to make Subang Jaya the model for public toilet design and clean facility.
The next important step is to ensure all schools take heart of the need for clean facilities. We could also get corporations to help with renovating the schools’ toilet facilities and sponsor campaigns instead of just talking about business. Do show your corporate responsibility.
The decision starts with all of us. Let us make a stand for the betterment of Subang Jaya. Encourage your company. Encourage your friends. Encourage our ADUN Hannah Yeoh, Encourage our MPSJ president and the local councilors. We should aim to have “Five star” toilets in all public places in Subang Jaya. A long time ago, Kuching started this. Toilets were rated. Why not Subang Jaya?
Have we looked at ourselves in the mirror today? Do we like what we see?