The Toilet Story

Here you go again in the newspaper regarding the story of public toilet. First, we have the one that make the authrority real proud : self automated toilet. A one person at a time, one ringgit per entrance toilet. I don't know how it cleans itself but still there would be somebody attending the toilet I guess to make sure the toilet is working or clean I suppose. Or else how can a toilet is self-cleaned? I don't know really. It scrubbed its own floor with detergent and anti-septic? Self-flush toilet yes I had heard of, but you know, sometimes some people might aim at the wrong side and the poo-poo get side ways and I presume this new technology has its way to detect these splashes and clean it right away. Bravo! But with one at a time of usage, I wonder how it can cope with say a group of 20 tourists. Hmm, well, it is our culture to be patient. So when u come travelling here, u must be patient too. Sorry but hold your biz!

Next, we have in Kuala Terengganu, a proudly RM 200,000 over public toilet. With Italian marble and over-the-counter type of basin. Well, I saw in the picture (The Star, today) that at least this toilet may cater for about 5 to 6 people at one go seeing the number of basins provided. They claimed to build more of these toilets for the TOURISTS. Oh boy, you tourists, so lucky cause you only need to pay 50sen for the use of this toilet. They even provide shower soap if you wish to take a quick shower with payment of RM1.50.

Well, I have to give compliment to the authorities for taking concern into making the toilet available for the tourists since we do have a Visit Malaysia Year 2007 approaching BUT I don't understand why such fuss about making the toilet '5 star'.....My concern for public toilet are as listed:-

• Located at the most convenient locations. Preferably ALL tourist destinations. This includes some of the remote areas where toilets are either rare (normally filthy) or none in existance.
• The number counts. Well, don't give me in an area where u expect 10,000 tourists per day and only 2 toilet cubicals are provided. I am not not an expert in holding my biz when mother nature calls.
• Cleanliness and well maintained. Floor are kept dry so that I don't have to fold up my pants and tip toe-ing into the toilet thinking that some of the water could have been the kids' wee wee...yikes!
• Tissue paper is provided.
• Most importantly : the wc and tap are WORKING. Most of the time, you will find that you can't flush the wc. Or there is simply no water flowing from the tap or that the water is simply flowing non-stop. Sheeshhhh..

Judging from the above, I don't see why we need a 5-star toilet. Let it be ceramic tiles, naturally ventilated with ample natural lighting to cut down cost. Or simply cement rendered flooring with a throw of some non-slip tiles in the cubical will do. As long as the toilet is working, that will be fine. I have seen a tastefully done, simple and nice toilet at Cameron Highland, Boh plantation Tea House. It is so nice u know u are in a tropical country because u can still catch glimpses of the lush green outside, you can sense the breeze brushes against your skin and it is well lit (naturally of course). The use of materials are all locally sorted, we don't need imported marble to be proud.

With a whopping RM200,000, one can easily build a bungalow (without the land cost-la) or can easily build more than just ONE public toilet so that more people can benefit from the facilities. Now, I wonder how much money do they allocate for maintenance? Will they tear down the toilet in 3 years' time because the marble has got stain all over it because of poor workmanship and the constant water that is flowing on it? Will there be any accident since marble is so slippery when it is wet? Ahhhh...goodness. Let us hope that the govt can spend the money wisely and not some extravaganza that is always THE TALLEST, HIGHEST, BIGGEST, MOST EXPENSIVE TO DATE but run down in no time....God bless the tourists. Enjoy your stay, Selamat Datang ke Malaysia.