New and improved: The toilets at the newly constructed block at SK Bandar Baru Bangi in Bangi, Selangor, where art and music classes are conducted for pupils at the school. — FAIHAN GHANI/The Star
PETALING JAYA: When Anita Nathan was 14, she developed urinary tract infections (UTIs) from holding her urine until she got home.
“I had a UTI once before because I didn’t urinate frequently, as my school toilet was so dirty. The faucets were rusty, and the flush pumps didn’t work, which made me feel uneasy,” said Anita, 30, an executive from Kajang.
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She noted that this issue has persisted for many years.
Katherine Lam, 52, revealed that her daughters wore diapers throughout their 11 years of schooling because they refused to use the filthy school toilets.
“I allowed them to wear appropriately sized diapers because I have personally witnessed the condition of their school toilets, which are often clogged with yellow water on the floor, dysfunctional pipes and broken doors,” said Lam from Cheras.
“I discovered this when I asked why they didn’t finish their bottles of water. They explained that they didn’t want to use the school toilets,” she added, mentioning that her children would wait until they got home to use the toilet.
Sabariah Hussein, 45, from Kuala Lumpur, said her eight-year-old daughter will only do her “business” when she gets home after school.
“My daughter refuses to use the school toilets and holds it in from 7am to noon because the toilets are filthy. And even when she tries to pass motion, it is not comfortable for her.”
Similarly, another mother who only wanted to be known as Siti Rasidah, 51, expressed the same concern, stating that the annual fees paid by parents for each child was intended for maintenance.
“I am confident that there are sufficient funds for the school to maintain its facilities and ensure the toilets are clean. Or is it a case of parents not paying their school fees on time?
“My daughter does not use the toilet because it’s always dirty. We have complained umpteen times to teachers,” said the single mother.
A few days ago, it was reported that a 16-year-old girl from SMK Taman Sri Muda tagged Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim in her social media post about her school toilets having no water for five to six months.
“The girls at the school had to go home and change pads during their menstruation because the school toilets are so smelly and dirty and have no water,” she wrote in the post.
Before that, on Aug 14, another student raised concerns with the Prime Minister regarding the broken toilets at SK Long Jaafar in Kamunting, Perak.
These issues were addressed and repaired within two days.
