PUTRAJAYA: A total of 11,835 public and school toilet facilities nationwide have been upgraded since 2023 under the government's “Clean, Attractive and Fragrant” initiative (BMW-i).
Housing and Local Government Minister Nga Kor Ming said the upgrades involved 1,592 public toilets under local authorities and toilet facilities at 10,243 schools, in collaboration with the Education Ministry.
He said 3,182 of the 3,940 public toilets under local authorities nationwide, or 80.8%, had achieved a rating of four stars and above.
"Public toilets reflect a nation's level of civilisation, cleanliness, culture, urban image and progress," he said when launching Malaysia's first smart BMW-i toilet at Dataran Putra here on Tuesday (Oct 13).
Nga said the new facility marked another step towards modernising public amenities through smart technology.
The toilet features automatic flushing systems, touchless taps and soap dispensers, as well as Internet of Things (IoT)-based fragrance systems.
It is also equipped with sensors to monitor air quality, ammonia levels, temperature, humidity and lighting.
Other features include cubicle occupancy indicators, smoke detectors, automatic floor cleaning and drying systems, and a digital feedback panel.
A mobile application allows cleaning schedules to be tracked, while a monitoring dashboard helps improve maintenance efficiency.
"Through BMW-i, we want to provide facilities that are not only clean, attractive and fragrant, but also smarter and more comfortable for the public.
"Smart technology allows cleanliness and maintenance to be monitored more efficiently and systematically," he said.
Meanwhile, Nga said the ministry would hold the 2026 Toilet of the Year Awards (TOTYA) on Oct 20 to recognise efforts to improve public toilet cleanliness.
The awards will feature eight categories covering shopping malls, petrol stations, hotels, rest and service areas, restaurants, schools, houses of worship and local authorities.
Participation has risen by 146%, from 345 entries in 2023 to 849 this year.
Nga said efforts to improve public toilet standards would be intensified ahead of Visit Malaysia 2027.
"Clean public toilets not only reflect the country's image but also influence tourists' experiences and perceptions of Malaysia," he said.
He also urged the public to take greater responsibility for maintaining cleanliness in shared facilities.
