Round-Table and Workshop on Toilet Facilities in Penang (15 June 2006)

Venue : Caring Society Complex

Toilet cleanliness has long been identified as an issue of concern in the Penang Tourism Study conducted by SERI. The key complaints by visitors and the public have been about unpleasent odour and poorly maintained facilities. Much of the problems could be atributed to a mixture of poor civic consciousness and overall maintenance.

In line with the desire of the Government to promote Visit Malaysia Year 2007, SERI held a Round-Table and Workshop on Toilet Facilities in Penang with the folowing objectives:-

• To identify the existing conditions of the toilets in Penang,
• To identify problems and causes,
• To determine in an objective manner the top complaints about toilet facilities in Penang from the users' perspective,
• To find out if the users deemed that toilets are designed to serve/meet their purpose, especially for the varied sectors within the community,
• To encourage various stakeholders to interact and draw up practicable actions/measures to address toilet facilities issues/problems,
• To identify needs and potential regulatory measures as well as to make recommendations to the authorities concerned,
• To aim for a synergistic corrective solution involving private-government and community partnership.

The Workshop was officiated by YB Teng Chang Yeow, and notable participants are as follows:-

• Local council representatives (Planning, health inspection and environment)
• Building materials groups for public transportation networks
• Building management groups (private shopping complexes, food outlets and recreational spots)
• Hoteliers, tour operators and tourist guides
• Hotel cleaning operators and contractors from the local council
• State Assemblymen
• Councilors and ex-Councilors
• Various government departments, statutory bodies and District Offices
• Non-governmental Organisations (NGOs)