Public toilet like no other

Public toilets here used to be in such a terrible state that when one need to answer the call of nature, one had to suppress the urge till it became unbearable.

Things have improved now. Thanks to the continuous educational and awareness campaign carried out by the authorities to promote the importance of clean toilets.

Sarikei District Council (SDC) was pleasantly astonished when its contractor took the initiative of adding some interior decorations to complement the cleanliness of the town's toilets.

For example, they installed window curtains and brought in potted flowers into SDC Public Toilet at Bank Road here.The facility now looks more like a small office than a public toilet. It is simply spick and span. Definitely worth the twenty sen fee imposed on each user.

The contractor, Norida Ekran, said since the toilet has become a workplace (it is manned day and night), it must be kept clean and comfortable at all times.

Norida has even installed a television to prevent her workers from becoming bored.

"If this place is smelly and dirty, they certainly would not be able to stay long in the premises," Norida explained, adding that they even have a small spare room in the building for praying and having their refreshment.

SDC Secretary, Justani Joni, described the contractor's initiative as a step towards improving the standard of public cleanliness.

It is his hope that the public here would respond positively when utilising the public toilet in particular and all other public facilities in general.

He hopes other contractors entrusted to operate the council's toilets in the future would continue these fine efforts.

By Anthony Aga, Borneo Post 5 March 2005