The Housing and Local Government Ministry (KPKT) is targeting at least one "Bersih, Menawan dan Wangi” (BMW-i) smart toilet in every state capital in the country, with construction costs capped at RM1mil per unit.
Housing and Local Government Minister Nga Kor Ming said the initiative was first implemented in Putrajaya before being extended to Kuala Lumpur and subsequently to other state capitals, including Ipoh (Perak), George Town (Penang), Kuching (Sarawak), Kota Kinabalu (Sabah) and Johor Baru.
"We chose Putrajaya (to launch the initiative) because, as the national administrative capital, it should set a good example.
"The cost of constructing each smart toilet is less than RM1mil, covering the entire package, including equipment, landscaping, a viewing deck, infrastructure and systems. We have therefore set a benchmark that the cost of each BMW-i toilet must not exceed RM1mil,” he told the media after officiating at the BMW-i toilet at Dataran Putra recently.
The BMW-i toilet at Dataran Putra is equipped with various smart technologies, including water closets with automatic seat covers and flushing systems, touchless taps and soap dispensers, an Internet of Things (IoT)-based fragrance system, cubicle occupancy indicators and environmental sensors to monitor lighting, air quality, ammonia levels, temperature and humidity.
The facility also features a user-counting system, smoke detectors, automated floor-cleaning and drying systems, a user feedback panel, a mobile application to monitor cleaning operations and a dashboard to improve operational efficiency and maintenance management.
Nga said the BMW-i toilet initiative was part of KPKT’s ongoing efforts to transform public facilities nationwide through the adoption of smart technology.
"Through BMW-i, we aim to provide facilities that are not only clean, attractive and pleasant-smelling, but also equipped with smart technology to enhance users’ comfort.
"Smart technology allows hygiene and maintenance standards to be monitored more efficiently and systematically on an ongoing basis, benefiting the public and enhancing the country’s image,” he said.
Nga said KPKT, in collaboration with local authorities (PBTs) and the Education Ministry (MOE), had constructed and upgraded 11,835 toilets nationwide to meet the Bersih, Menawan dan Wangi standard since 2023.
Through collaboration with PBTs and MOE, the Madani Government has upgraded 1,592 public toilets under PBT jurisdiction, as well as toilet facilities in 10,243 schools nationwide.
"There are currently 3,940 public toilets under the administration and operation of PBTs nationwide, of which 3,182, or 80.8%, have attained a four-star rating or higher,” he said.
Nga said the project to build and upgrade public toilets was a strategic investment that could deliver wider benefits to the country, particularly by improving the quality of public facilities and enhancing Malaysia’s image as a tourism destination.
He said clean and comfortable public toilets were essential to attracting more tourists to Malaysia in conjunction with the Visit Malaysia 2026-2027 campaign.
Meanwhile, Nga said the ministry would organise the Best Toilet of the Year Award (TOTYA) 2026 ceremony on Oct 20 in recognition of the efforts of various parties to improve the cleanliness and quality of public toilets.
This year’s awards comprise eight categories: shopping complexes, petrol stations, hotels, rest and service areas (R&Rs), restaurants, schools, places of worship and PBTs. – Bernama
