KUALA LUMPUR: The Ministry of Housing and Local Government (KPKT) allocated RM154 million to local authorities nationwide between 2023 and 2025 to maintain, repair and upgrade public toilet facilities.
Housing and Local Government Minister Nga Kor Ming said the funding had enabled 1,529 public toilets managed by local authorities to be upgraded so far.
He said KPKT would continue the initiative by allocating RM30 million annually from 2026 to 2030, bringing the total funding for public toilet upgrades over the next five years to RM150 million.
Meanwhile, Nga said collaboration between KPKT and the Ministry of Education had resulted in the upgrading of 11,835 school toilets nationwide, describing it as the largest achievement of its kind in the country’s history.
He stressed that providing clean, attractive and fragrant public toilets was essential to improving people’s quality of life and reflecting the country’s image and level of development, particularly as Malaysia seeks to attract more international visitors.
“Public toilets are essentially the calling card at the forefront of a country’s image,” he said at the Malaysia Best Toilet Awards 2026 (TOTYA’26), organised by KPKT here on Tuesday night.
Also present were Deputy Housing and Local Government Minister Datuk Aiman Athirah Sabu, Deputy Education Minister Wong Kah Woh, and Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Religious Affairs) Marhamah Rosli.
Nga said Malaysia was expected to welcome 47 million foreign tourists this year, making clean and comfortable public toilet facilities an important component of the country’s tourism infrastructure.
He added that public awareness of toilet hygiene was growing, with participation in TOTYA’26 increasing to 849 entries this year from 345 during its inaugural edition, representing a rise of more than 200 per cent.
The fourth edition of TOTYA featured eight categories: schools, places of worship, shopping malls, petrol stations, hotels, restaurants, local authorities, and rest and recreation (R&R) areas.
Among this year’s winners were Masjid Nurussalam in Gerik, Perak, for the places of worship category; Shah Alam City Council for the public toilet at Tasik Barat, Section 14, Shah Alam, in the local authorities category; Iconic Marjorie Penang, a Tribute Portfolio Hotel in Bayan Lepas, for the hotel category; and Mamakim Wellness Kitchen Sdn Bhd in Desa Sri Hartamas for the restaurant category.
Other winners included Sekolah Kebangsaan Tok Randok in Ajil, Hulu Terengganu, for the school category; Petronas Presint 18 in Putrajaya for the petrol station category; Sunway Square Mall in Subang for the shopping mall category; and the southbound Seremban R&R along the North-South Expressway, operated by PLUS Malaysia Berhad, for the R&R category.
Each category winner received RM20,000 in prize money, a trophy and a certificate of recognition.
Nga also announced that a new category would be introduced at next year’s awards to recognise the best toilets at higher education institutions, including universities and colleges, encouraging educational institutions to place greater emphasis on toilet cleanliness and maintenance.
-AWANI
