JUST how safe are our public toilets? The recent safety audit for public toilets and public transport terminals toilets done by the Ministry of Housing and Local Government shows that safety emphasis is lacking at public toilets managed by local councils.

The audit carried out end of last year was targeted at toilets run by local councils in areas marked as crime hotspots.

The 12 local councils were City Hall, Shah Alam City Council (MBSA), Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ), Johor Baru City Council (MBJB), Subang Jaya Municipal Council (MPSJ), Ampang Jaya Municipal Council (MPAJ), Selayang Municipal Council (MPS), Klang Municipal Council (MPK), Pasir Gudang Municipal Council (MPPG), Johor Baru Tengah Municipal Council (MPJBT), Pulau Pinang Municipal Council (MPPP) and Seberang Perai Municipal Council (MPSP).

A total of 467 public toilets were  inspected by the ministry's audit team from the National Key Result Areas (NKRA) Safe City unit of the Town Planning and Country Department.

The team  took pictures and carried out observations at several areas in the municipality including public parks, wet markets, business centres and also hawkers centres.

Among the safety factors looked into were   warning notices and signs, the brightness of the area, the level of care and maintenance of the toilets' surroundings, the toilets' location, its safety perimeter, the toilets' design and also whether the toilets' external areas were monitored via closed circuit television cameras.

Out of  the 124 City Hall public toilets, 19 lacked maintenance and 15 were not brightly lit. Hundred and four  had poor designs while 44 toilets were  in unsafe  locations. Eighty-two toilets did not have CCTV surveillance.

MBSA had 39 toilets under its care tabulated. Twenty-one  had poor designs and 17 were built at unsafe locations, eight poorly maintained, seven were poorly-lit and 20  not fitted with CCTV.

MBPJ with its 51 toilets had 48 with poor designs  and 24 built in unsafe locations. Out of the total, 10 lacked maintenance, 17 were in dingy corners and 44 toilet areas were not fitted with CCTVs.

MPSJ's 33 toilets had  poor designs, 22 in unsafe locations, five poorly-maintained, 16 were badly lit while only one toilet area had CCTV.

Out of MPS' 37 toilets, 27 were poor designs and 21 in unsafe locations. All its toilets were badly lit and only one toilet area had CCTV.

Thirty-seven of MPK's 45 toilets were of poor designs, 19 were at  safe locations, 22  lacking maintenance, 19  with poor lighting and 42 toilet areas not equipped with CCTV.

NKRA Safe City special unit chief Siow Suan Neo said the objective of the audit was to identify the potential risks and dangers in toilets and whether  safety measures were not adhered to when they were built.

"We have advised councils to improve on toilets that did not rate satisfactorily on safety measures," said Siow.

She said there had been a lot of instances where public toilets were used as a place to commit various criminal acts such as vice, vandalism, drug abuse, baby dumping, and even murder.

"We hope with this awareness the local councils would be prudent in improving the safety of  public toilets.

She said the councils can use Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design for reference.

MPAJ president Datuk Mohammad Yacob,  commenting on the outcome of the audit, said steps will be taken to improve the public toilets' safety measures according to the specifications in the audit.

"We will also inform public toilet operators in the municipality to make the necessary changes to increase  safety," he said.

MPK acting president Ehsan Mukri said the council is taking the audit report positively and will make the necessary changes soon.

"We have come up with more user friendly toilets and also install CCTVs around selected toilets which are prone to vandalism and other vice," said Ehsan.

He added that  the council spends about RM20,000 a month for public toilet maintenance in Klang town.

"We are opening doors to outsource contractors to clean toilets in Pasar Besar Meru."

MPS president Datuk Zainal Abidin A'ala also said that  the audit was an eye opener to the council to improve the condition of its  public toilets.

However, he said it is not entirely the council's responsibility to care for the toilets as it also involves public participation and awareness.

"We will work on improving the toilets and also make the necessary changes," he said.