The Sibu Toilet Council (STC) will help design a five-star toilet each for three schools in Sibu.

STC chairperson Robert Lau Hui Yew said construction works were expected to begin soon.

He said STC helped to design the five-star open design concept incorporating unique design features such as landscaping, ample natural lighting and ventilation for the three toilets.

The toilets are located at SK Abang Ali and SK Rendah Kerajaan Perbandaran No 3, costing about RM20,000 each, and at SMK Tung Hua (RM35,000).

"Today is a significant day as it is also World Toilet Day," Lau told a press conference after officially opening the clean toilet seminar 2010 in Sibu.

He said funding for the toilets came from the Education Ministry, adding that Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin, who is also Education Minister, had announced it during the recent Sibu parliamentary by-election, when Lau was the BN candidate.

"We will be working with more schools for better toilets," he said, adding that currently, there were about 400 public toilets, including those run by the council and coffee shops.

Seventy participants attended the one-day seminar.

Gov't may introduce street toilets

Meanwhile, in Kota Kinabalu, the Housing and Local Government Ministry may introduce street toilets in busy public places for the convenience of the people.

Deputy minister Lajim Ukin said the toilet would be simple in its design and require only a small space.

He also urged the people to help maintain the cleanliness of public toilet.

"Just imagine if one suddenly gets the call of nature at a public place where there is no toilet or the toilet is in dilapidated condition; at that time we realise the value of having a clean public toilet," he said when launching the city-level 2010 toilet cleanliness campaign today.

Lajim said the ministry viewed toilet cleanliness seriously and was making efforts to raise it to the world class level.

He said the campaign was part of the strategy and that he hoped it would help improve the people's awareness on the importance of keeping the toilet clean and help enhance the image of country, especially its tourism sector.

- Bernama