Malaysians share horror stories about public toilets, from flooded floors to missing bidets and extortionate fees, highlighting hygiene failures nationwide
PETALING JAYA: From flooded floors to missing bidets and extortionate entry fees, Malaysians are criticising public toilets, exposing a shocking neglect of basic hygiene standards.
A Reddit thread inviting users to share their public restroom experiences was widely spread, drawing tales that range from the inconvenient to the nightmarish.
Electronic-Contact15 said: “0/10 do not recommend. Why do public toilets in Malaysia only have water hoses without the gun???”
Another user vita1611 said bidet heads are often stolen.
GuardianSpear described a flooded restroom at the Road Transport Department office in Shah Alam and said: “I needed to pee badly. As I was standing at the urinal, I could feel the water on the floor seeping through my shoes and into my socks.”
leepinkdesu joked about the public toilet in Pulau Ketam and said: “Just go straight to sea.”
Entry fees were also a sore point.
CN8YLW said: “It is worse when they are collecting 50 sen to enter and the toilet is so dirty. That is not an entry fee, that is extortion.”
Others, such as Bishbosh_91, admitted that they usually seek out mosque toilets, avoiding public facilities altogether.
However, not all experiences were negative.
karlkry mentioned improvements since Housing and Local Government Minister Nga Kor Ming pushed for cleaner toilets.
“After the minister pushed for a cleaner public toilet policy, it has become cleaner. Sure, it is old, but definitely cleaner than before.”
The thread also highlighted the often-overlooked work of janitorial staff who keep these spaces functional under challenging conditions.
theSun also spoke to Malaysians who offered their perspectives on public restroom conditions.
Ariana, 27, said public toilets in Malaysia fail both hygiene and religious standards.
“Most have automatic pipes that spray directly into the bowl. I cannot be sure if it cleans me properly. As a Muslim, I feel like I have not cleaned myself properly before prayer.”
She added that the water often doesn’t reach where it should, making proper cleaning difficult.
By contrast, she praised Japan’s approach and said: “Tissues can be thrown directly into the toilet bowls and instructions even ask users to ‘please’ dispose of tissues in the bowl and flush.
“Malaysia should look into this technology and provide options for privacy, such as sound masking, so that people can use cubicles without worrying about noise.”
Kamarrudin, 28, called for practical and cultural improvements in public toilets.
“Companies should stop implementing dry toilets and ensure proper maintenance.
“People need to follow proper flushing and hygiene habits. Each cubicle should have a dustbin for tissues, hand sanitiser and soap. With these basic steps, public toilets could be far more usable and hygienic.”
