Tuesday, February 24, 2009

The 2nd Sarawak Hornbill Appreciation Award 2008

Sibu Municipal Council was again in the news and this time, the Town Square Phase II Public Toilet was being awarded for the Outstanding Contribution to the tourism Industry model toilet : Model toilet -Concept category. This competition was organised by the Sarawak tourism federation and the State Ministry of Urban Development & Tourism, Sarawak and the Ceremony was on the night of 20th February graced by the Chief Minister Of Sarawak , Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud and the Minister of Urban Development & Tourism, Datuk Micheal Manyin was also present. In fact, Sibu Municipal Council also received another award for the outstanding Contribution to Sarawak Tourism in the Sarawak Culinary Delights category for the "Pasar Malam" (or the night market) during the ceremony.


1. The 2nd Sarawak Hornbill Appreciation Award 2008

1.1 Trophy and framed Certificate.


1.2Trophy

1.3 Nicely Framed Certificate.


Public Toilet at Sibu Town Square Phase II

The location of this toilet is in the areas of the Sibu Town Square Phase II .The building of this public toilet was formerly one of the blocks of the Old Lau King Howe hospital which gave way for the development of the Sibu Town Square Phase II. This Toilet is formed part of the Old Lau King Howe Hospital's Medical Museum's Court Yard. This toilet was built or rather could be said renovated in the Year 2006 and was designed by a local well known architect.

The renovation and construction expenses of this toilet were from Sibu Lau’s Association (NGO) and Sibu Municipal Council. The Supervision of this toilet is under the Sibu Municipal Council’s Landscaping Section & Sibu Toilet Council (STC) and was placed under the maintenance and cleaning by the Landscape Contractor. All the toilet entry collections go to the Cleaning Contractor.

Since the toilet is located in the recreation areas of the Town Square, most of the users of this toilet are visitors as well as the people coming for morning & afternoon walks/exercises.

The most notable features of this toilet are the open concept where more ventilation openings were created through out the toilet buildings and with less partition. Hand cleaning facilities was installed separated from the main toilet areas. The Ladies’ section of the toilet is also installed with low urinal trough especially for the kids (boys) who come with their mothers. A Toilet for Handicap (OKU) is also provided. Another notable feature is the communal urinal’s wall for the male which was constructed with high density glass and is self cleaning with the controlled & continuous flowing of water on the glass wall. This Toilet can be said to be the most users' friendly toilet in Sibu.


1. Front View of the Sibu Town Square Phase II Public Toilet.




2. Front Entrance /Exit.





3. The Water Court Yard (Pond water level follow the tides of the longest river
in Sarawak , the mighty Rejang River)



4. Partition allow natural light during the day time.




3.Internal View- Long Wash hand RC Basin with laminated Frosted Glass
at the bottom and fluorescent light installed underneath this RC basin .




4. The laminated frosted Glass bottom fitted with fluorescent lights and
serve as lighting during the night time for the washers (users).



6. Another close up view.



6. Urinal -Laminated Frosted Glass Wall urinals and fluorescent Light in
between this glass wall for the lighting. Cold water pipe between the glass walls
to the supply water to the top of the glass wall for the flushing of the urinals (Self Cleansing)



7. The hinged S.S. Grill floor for the Gent Users to stand on.



8. Another Close up view of the floor grill.


This public toilet was also installed with the following users' friendly features
for the convenience for the users.

1. The electric hand drier.



2. The Low trough urinal for Kids and in the female toilet portion
especially for the young boys accompanying their mothers.



3. The less fortunate ones (Handicap or "OKU")


3. Your Choice- Seating Type.


4. Your Choice-Squatting type?


5. Take note of the brightness indicating good natural lighting and ventilation.


6. Feeling Tired? Wooden Benches cum the partition walls (to the male &
Female Section of the Toilet) for your use.





Lastly, the newspaper's cutting of the report of the ceremony from our
local press (Borneo Post-Saturday, February 21,2009)






Saturday, February 14, 2009

The most environmental friendliest Public Toilet in Sibu.

There are a lot of nice,nice toilets or public toilets in Kuala Lumpur or in holiday resorts or theme parks around the world and really fortunate that a place like Sibu do had two beautiful public toilets sited in our very own lake Garden and I am very sure that only a handful people knew about this toilet. I took this opportunity to use this toilet and sure that I could be one of few user of this toilet.

This toilet facilities consist of two block building and with shower facilities as well as for the less fortunate ones (disabled). One block for the males and another for the ladies. These toilets are very well ventilated and lighted (natural openings) during the day time which could be observed in the following photos. Can't really described the uniqueness of these toilets in words. Visit them and you will get the feelings!

Asked our Municipal Architect Mr. Abu and I was told that these toilets were built some time in 2004 and was designed by quite a renowned architect in malaysia. He told me that pebbles found collected in big concrete container in the urinal areas, bath/shower room and toilet's cubicles were for planting of small trees. Wow, toilets in the forest !!! Forgot to ask our Municipal Architect Mr. Abu what's the Showers for??? Can we take a swim in the lake and take the shower? well, definitely swimming or fishing is prohibited.

To me as a layman, the two toilets' building roof is just like a big giant leaf covering the building. I'm sure the QRAM member Ar. Hassan will agreed with me.

How to go there? Normally driving will take a few minutes to half an hour from Sibu Town to Sibu Lake Garden at Permai commercial areas. Then you reached the main entrance and parked your vehicle and you take a few minutes walk through the sibu lake garden park.

1. The elevated foot way leading to the toilet.



2. the inner portion of the foot path.



3.The entrance to the toilets (female on the left and Male on the right)






4. Roofing or the opening .




5. The Toilet cubicle.




6. Giant Shower head. Shower cubicles is well ventilated & lighted naturally.



7. Exterior wall -timber (hardwood)



8. Looking from inside the building.


9. The collection of pebbles in the toilet cubicle for the planting of trees.




10. Vandalism -see the missing pipe of the urinal.



11. The roofing opening.



12. The wash hand facilities. ( the basin used look like cooking "wok")




13. The urinal areas looking from outside the building.



14. View from outside.




15. A view from the Toilets.




16. The Female Toilet building.




17. The male toilet building.


18. View- like a giant leaf and the curve of the roof.
(female toilet)


20.View- another giant leaf (male toilet)



21. Another view


The surrounding is very beautiful and compound is quite vast and wondering if these areas can be use for the gathering or activities or outing for our toilet council members.



















Public Health & Municipal Services Committee 2009

From 1st January 2009, new batch of Councillors were appointed and they were assigned to various standing committees of Sibu Municipal Council . This time, most of the "Old" councillors left the council as most of them had served council for quite a numbers of years. Really fortunate Cr. Robert Lau Hui Yew (Our toilet Chairperson) is still with us and the Sibu Municipal Council. The Standing committee which the Sibu Toilet Council had to report to every month , now is being head by Cr. Ir Patrick Tong , a Chartered Professional Engineer by profession and quite a friendly person. Also, acting Municipal Secretary, Ir. Wong Fu Toh had left Council and Sr. Assistant Secretary Mr. Hii Chang Kee is now the Acting Municipal Council Secretary or the CEO of Sibu Municipal Council. Both of them are very supportive to Sibu Toilet Council.
1. Cr. Patrick Tong (Standing Commitee Chairman) in the middle.



2. The committee members (councillors)