Time for Action!

Good day everybody. Since some of our toilet evaluations could unfortunately not score with many points, we decided to send letters so that the managment will hopefully take some action to improve the cleanliness or general state of the toilets.

First, we sent a letter to Komtar (see evaluation here).
This is the letter:

To:

Prangin Mall JMB – MPPP/COB/JMB-104/2008
Level 5, Prangin Mall
No 33, Jalan Dr. Lim Chwee Leong
10100 Penang

Dear Mr. Heng Ah Leak,

We are writing to you concerning the state of toilets in Prangin Mall.

We are students at Universiti Sains Malaysia and running the initiative ‘World of Toilets’ which evaluates toilets in public and commercial buildings throughout mainly Penang, and also wider Malaysia and Southeast Asia. Our blog can be found at www.world-of-toilets.tk

This project is under the advisory of CP-TAG USM (Corporate Social Responsibility and Philanthropy Transdisciplinary Action Group of Universiti Sains Malaysia), chairperson Dr. Reevany Bustami.

We are writing to you as compared to other public toilets we feel that the state of toilets in Prangin Mall are not satisfactory at all. Our evaluations found the toilets to be wet and/or not clean, despite charging money which according to our information serves as extra revenue for additional work (cleaning) and maintenance for the toilets.

We would like to urge you that clean and comfortable toilets are not only vital to health but also well-being of people, which makes visitor want to come more often. Especially if visitors have to pay to enter toilets, clean toilets should be a given.

The toilet evaluation of Prangin Mall can be found here:
http://world-of-toilets.blogspot.com/2009/01/evaluation-womens-toilet-in-komtar.html

Please note that compared to other evaluations throughout Penang and Malaysia, Prangin Mall has been evaluated as one of the worst toilets.

Other evaluations as well as research regarding public toilets and further information:
http://www.world-of-toilets.tk

We will appreciate any response or immediate action very much.
Kind regards,
Anja Heise, Emma Kuronen, Dennis Keller

worldoftoilets@dionos.com
+60124698084

Toilet evaluation "The Mall" Kuala Lumpur

This is en evaluation of the women´s toilet at the Shopping Mall "The Mall" (what a name) in Kuala Lumpur. It´s located near the LRT Station PWTC. It´s an average toilet. Not perfectly clean but ok. The only thing that makes it interesting is, that they have installed an automat where you can buy tissues and also sanitary napkins. Good Idea! Don´t you think?

• Costs? 30 Cent
  
• Tissues? available in automat (20 Cent)
  
• Cleanliness? 3 of 5 Stars
• Type? western & asian
  
• Toilet shower? no
  
• Soap on tap? yes
  
• Hand drying? automat
  

Toilet on Krabi

This cutie pie is located on East Rai Leh Beach in Krabi, Thailand. Most of the toilets on the beach are pretty much like this one. Not precisely a pleasure but just enough to do your duties. There was no sink, only this bidet (= hose and bucket) to wash yourself. But it was enjoyable to sit on the pot and watch the colours and patterns on the wall!

• Costs? free
• Tissues? no
• Cleanliness? 2 of 5 Stars
• Type? western
  
• Toilet shower? yes
  
• Soap on tap? no
• Hand drying? no
  

Toilet of Hotel Park Royal in Batu Feringgi, Penang

What a luxury! All of them: the entrance, the lobby, the bar, the restaurant, the food and (the most imortant) the toilet! It was of course perfectly clean but also very classy and elegant. They used lot of dark wood, black surfaces and the sinks were gorgeously designed. And as a bonus they had aroma candles to give a little bit nicer odeur.

• Costs? free
• Tissues? free paper
  
• Cleanliness? 5 of 5 Stars
• Type? western
  
• Toilet shower? no
  
• Soap on tap? yes
  
• Hand drying? paper

Toilet evaluation Planet Hollywood Restaurant, Jakarta

Dear readers, last week I made a short trip to Indonesia´s capital, Jakarta! There was one special toilet that really has to be mentioned in this Blog. It is located inside the Planet Hollywood restaurant in Jalan Jendut Gatot Subroto. First of all, the facilities here are very clean and they had installed one of these air-fresheners, which made the the toilet good smelling. But when I went to the sink to wash my hands there was a real surprise! Have you ever seen a toilet where all this things are offered to freshen up? Take a look: Baby-powder, Q-tips, mouthwash, Aloe-Vera lotion, facial foam and body mist cologne!!

• Costs? free
  
• Tissues? free paper
  
• Cleanliness? 4½ of 5 Stars
• Type? western
  
• Toilet shower? no
  
• Soap on tap? yes
  
• Hand drying? paper

toilet evaluation Sungai Nibong Bus Station, Penang

Here is another public toilet example from beautiful Penang Island. Probably all of you have already been at the Sungai Nibong Bus Station near the USM. Most long-distance busses to other places in Malaysia leave from here. Therefore, the public toilets here are highly frequented.

• Costs? 20 Cent
  
• Tissues? 30 Cent
  
• Cleanliness? 3 of 5 Stars
• Type? western & asian
  
• Toilet shower? yes
• Soap on tap? yes
  
• Hand drying? no hand dryer and no hand paper
  
  

Offering a hand-dryer could improve the situation! What i´d like to mention is, that the people collecting the money at the entrance are always friendly. Once (it was the day I first arrived in Penang) after a long journey when I was very exhausted I did not bring my purse up to the first floor where the toilets are located. So I asked the lady sitting there if she could make an exeption to let me use the toilet for free. She was so kind to let me in without paying the fee! Thanks to the nice staff :)

Malaysia's toilet revolution - an article

I found an interesting article, I'd like to share with you:

The man behind Malaysia's toilet revolution

It talks about Malaysia upgrading its public toilets, to the extent that some colleges may even offer courses in how to keep toilets clean...