Kota Kinabalu: Starting next year, the Government will require toilets in food premises to meet the BMW (Bersih, Menawan, Wangi) cleanliness standard before their licences can be renewed under all City Hall-level local authorities, said Mayor Datuk Seri Dr Sabin Samitah.
“Efforts to strengthen toilet cleanliness are also highly significant ahead of Visit Malaysia Year 2026, as cleanliness and public amenities play an important role in shaping visitors’ perceptions and experiences,” he said at the Kota Kinabalu-level World Toilet Day 2025 celebration at a hotel.
He said City Hall is undertaking an important transformation to set standards and monitoring for the cleanliness of commercial premises, public parks, markets and tourism locations, including regular inspections and a public-toilet whitening programme.
“New guidelines for the management and maintenance of public toilets are also being introduced. There is no need for concern. These guidelines are easy to comply with and are not burdensome to premises owners,” he said.
As City Hall prepares the smart city digital platform for Kota Kinabalu, Sabin said several systems will be incorporated into the platform, including security CCTV and maintenance sensors.
“Through these systems, we will be able to monitor the cleanliness not only of restaurants but also of toilets throughout the city,” he added.
Up to November 2025, he said City Hall had inspected and issued star ratings to 1,058 toilets in food premises.
Of this number, 265 toilets achieved the BMW standard, receiving a four- or five-star rating.
“Therefore, I urge food-premise operators to improve and raise the cleanliness level of their toilets,” he said.
Sabin said he is aware that some restaurants under City Hall’s jurisdiction still show poor attitudes, where the cleanliness of their premises, particularly toilets, is not prioritised.
In conjunction with the celebration themed “Clean Toilets, Prosperous Community”, a clean public toilet competition was held from Oct 27 to Dec 1. A total of 1,143 entries were received across various categories.
For the petrol stations category, the top three winners were Petron Jalan Damai, Petron Ulam North and Petron Ulam South.
Primary schools (urban): SK Lok Yuk Likas, SK Lok Yuk Inanam and SK Api Api/SK St Catherine Kota Kinabalu (joint third).
Primary schools (rural): SK Poring Poring, SK Babagon Toki and SK Ruminding.
Secondary schools: Kolej Tingkatan Enam Kota Kinabalu, SM All Saints and SM Stella Maris Kota Kinabalu.
Shopping malls: Imago Shopping Mall, Suria Sabah Mall and 88 Mall.
Resorts/tourism premises: Mari Mari Cultural Village, Homestay Desa Kobuni Inanam and Aquascape Centre.
Houses of worship (temples): Pertubuhan Ugama Buddha Che Sze Lim Kota Kinabalu and KK Buddhist Peak Nam Toong Mission.
Houses of worship (churches): Calvary Charismatic Centre Tanjung Aru, Gereja Katolik St Catherine of Siena Inanam and Wisma SIB Sabah Taman Hong Kong.
Houses of worship (mosque/surau): Surau Ar-Rahman Kampung Tobur Rampayan, Masjid Nurul Hikmah Bukit Padang and Masjid Bandaraya Kota Kinabalu.
Food premises (coffee shops): Kedai Kopi Kinabalu, Yen Ai Herbal Tea Shop and Kedai Kopi Ocean King.
Food premises (coffee house): Lucky Bean Kingfisher, Café 17 and Manmi Yogurt KKTS.
Food premises (restaurant): 12 Dining, Hai Di Lao Malaysia Sdn Bhd and QSR Stores Sdn Bhd Jalan Sulaman.
Hotels: Promenade Hotel Kota Kinabalu, Grandis Hotel and Resorts, and Hyatt Centric Kota Kinabalu. The other entries were for City Hall’s internal competition.
