For the very first time, the ‘2023 Toilet Of The Year’ award made its debut with the goal of giving public restrooms in Malaysia a major facelift. The objective is to make these facilities clean, visually appealing, and pleasantly scented, all while boosting the nation’s reputation, particularly among international visitors.
Local Government Development Minister Nga Kor Ming launched this project in preparation for Visit Malaysia Year 2025.
For as long as memory serves, unsanitary public restrooms have remained an enduring source of frustration and inconvenience for the people of Malaysia. The state of public toilets has been a longstanding issue, consistently plaguing Malaysians and detracting from their daily experiences. Whether it’s in bustling urban centers, transportation hubs, or public facilities, the prevalence of unclean and inadequately maintained restrooms has created a common gripe among citizens.
Beginning this year, the Ministry of Local Government Development has embarked on a mission to transform the public’s perception of restroom hygiene and comfort across the nation. The objective is to elevate public facilities to BMW standards, embodying ‘Bersih, Menawan, Wangi’ (Clean, Attractive, Fragrant).
Minister Nga emphasized the importance of The Toilet of The Year Award, as it serves as a platform for promoting BMW-standard public restrooms, particularly to the private sector, as highlighted during the award ceremony held on October 30.
Subsequently, during a press conference, Minister Nga shared that the global market value of the restroom equipment industry stands at RM80 billion, with an expected annual growth rate of 7.6 percent. He expressed his vision to not only ensure world-class public restrooms in the country but also to foster the development of the restroom equipment industry.
