By: Datin Fazar Arif
I WAS walking past a pretty decent looking car recently when I couldn't help but notice the man on the passenger seat alighting from the car, clear his throat and spit on the tarmac ground like it was the most natural thing on earth to do.
At another time, in an area that is mostly frequented by 'locals' (Lintas Square), I was crossing the road towards my parked car and, had to make a quick diversion to avoid a huge blob of mucus that was directly in my path.
I'm finding this a huge problem and I am sure I am not the only one: Should we avoid looking down or must we make a point to look down the asphalt covered ground to avoid accidentally stepping on some secretion that had come out from someone's probably infected lungs and feel sickened, on what could be the rest of the day, with that obvious evidence of a bad habit? Obviously, we have no choice but to do the latter.
Sad to say, such bad habits are prevalent in our society.
Fortunately or unfortunately, some might say, it happens all over the world.
But is that a good excuse for some to live with their ignorance and bad habits? Indeed during the fasting month of Ramadhan, especially, those who are aware of it, would dread to be next to those who would wind down the windows when they stopped at traffic lights; The next thing that would happen would be the drivers' spit flying out of the window.
And, the drivers would be completely oblivious to the feelings of those who happened to see his or her action and, would even perhaps feel 'proud,' to show the world the evidence that he or she was fasting that day.
What could be in the minds of those who are obviously oblivious to their surrounding or people around them when they decide to practise their dirty personal habits 'free' for all to 'see'?
Education or the lack of it is definitely one of the main contributing factors to their character.
It is disgusting to see one of the compulsory signs required by the authorities for coffee shops to stick on their walls, which is, "Jangan Meludah (No spitting), " in this is day and age.
One would wish that it were totally unnecessary. But, even most smokers, do still throw cigarette butts and even all kinds of rubbish on the floor in coffee shops and some open-air restaurants.
So indeed the "No spitting (on the floor) could well be justified still.
What would it take to change the mentality of a people practising bad habits or of acceptance as a whole and get rid of these bad habits?
More enforcement? Perhaps.
A big banner placed on the wall of the upper floor, facing the exit of the wet market on the right-hand side of the building, warning people on the penalty of littering is indeed commendable; To DBKK's credit the wet market is nowadays more free of litter.
Unfortunately, spit or saliva on the five-foot path, on the floor of the market, on asphalt sealed roads and parking areas are very much a common sight.
Why? Is it because society as a whole has accepted such thing as normal or 'biasa bah tu'?
If that is not the case, shouldn't there also be signs, around the wet market area for all the 'excessive' spitting in public, to be penalized?
Or, is it because some in or with authority do it too and that it is an act that is 'tidak apa-apa' and those who do talked about it have nothing better to do and are being petty?
What could the difference be between spitting in coffee shops, restaurants and places that members of the public go, especially to buy vegetables and food ingredients?
Talking about bad habits, Datuk Seri Chor Chee Heung, Housing and Local Government Minister said to reporters on November 22 (Bernama) after launching the national-level World Toilets Day 2012 in Kuala Lumpur, that his Ministry audits have shown that the level of cleanliness of public toilets throughout the country has improved to above 60 cent the last two years and has now set the target to 85 percent by 2013.
It is interesting to know how many percent out of that 60 per cent of cleanliness applied to the public toilets in Sabah and exactly, what is the standard of those toilets within that 60 percent bracket that Malaysia have supposedly achieved?
Here's a 'sad' that it is 'almost comical' incident that happened a few months ago and deserved a mention, I think: A public toilet in the small town of Sipitang (south-east of Sabah) charges 30 sen per entry, the same as any toilets in the shopping malls in Kota Kinabalu.
On stepping in, I was appalled to see cooking utensils and cutleries at the entrance of the toilet that obviously belonged to and was used to cook food for the consumption of the cleaner and her little daughter, who happened to be with her that day at the entrance of the toilet.
The toilet was as I expected, wet and terribly smelly.
Even more traumatizing was the dirty door and a huge cockroach on it when I went into a cubicle, that I had to, with all my might, suppress a scream and think, "that cockroach was smaller than me," helped a lot.
Complaining to the cleaner for the 30 sen charges and the standard of cleanliness prove a waste of time as she, obviously was not trained and had no clue whatsoever to any standard of hygiene and cleanliness as her response to our complaint was met with anger and: "What fussy people!
It's a toilet! What do you expect?" Indeed, I hope that she would, one day realize that her reality is what she made of it and that she can take control of the dirt or cleanliness around her if she wants to, especially with the job she chose to do.
Being poor or being in 'a poor environment' does not mean dirt; unhygienic conditions and bad habits should coexist with one's existence too.
Most who have visited Bali, Bandung, Jakarta and even Thailand would agree that standards of toilet cleanliness in shopping complexes or anywhere that any member of the public are welcome to use, are better, especially their shopping complexes, restaurants or even 'warungs,' as a whole.
In fact, almost 10 years ago, in one visit by road around Sarawak which brought me to Lubok Antu, a border town in Sarawak, turned out as one pleasant and unforgettable experiences of the trip as our group was hosted for lunch by the highest-ranking police officer in the town, at the best eating area, which was at the wet market in Lubok Antu.
The wet-market was almost empty as we arrived late that afternoon.
My worry to use the public toilet near the wet-market was unfounded as the standard of cleanliness was impressive for a small town.
It was very clean in that there was nothing that was blackish or greenish anywhere, it was free of smell, and the floor was very dry.
Public toilets do not have to be luxurious, like the ones in Bali are mostly squatting types, but essentially dry floors and smell free should be the target at all times.
I am curious how some people who used the toilets, would wash themselves (as they could), but ended up looking like they decided to wash the toilets at the same time. An Australian friend of mine was very upset when she talked to me about the conditions of the public toilets in Sabah, "Éand the ones (toilets) at the airport were simply atrocious.
What's the point of spending so much money to attract tourists to come when they might not get repeat customers or lose potential customers because of the reputation of their toilets?" Indeed this could be a case of pushing the blame amongst those with authority instead of a "working together to solve the issue," case.
I fully agree with some who had written to Daily Express and said that, good habits should start from home and perhaps discipline and lessons on hygiene and cleanliness should start from schools too.
Most children should be spending more time with their parents and therefore, good habits, self-respect and respect for others should really be a family's way of life; a way of life that children could bring into society as a whole.
Unfortunately most parents are not aware of such things nowadays and most schools are more worried of being seen as 'over-disciplining' kids.
Many years ago when I was the President of a primary school PTA, some parents stubbornly refused proposals for duty rosters for older children to clean toilets.
These parents, no matter how affluent or "educated" did not realize the lessons children would and could learn as a person, as people when given responsibility to take care of facilities they need to use all their lives.
In fact most do not connect bad habits to lack of respect for others and even themselves. On board of planes we often see these signs: "As a courtesy to the next passenger, may we suggest that you use a towel to wipe the basin." Being disrespectful, inconsiderate to others and thoughts like, "it is someone else's job to do," unfortunately is the foundation to inculcating the bad habits and poor self-image.
We are creatures of habits. Ian Newby-Clark a Psychologist with the University of Guelph in Canada in his blog on Psychology Today wrote: "First off, we are creatures. We are animals. We're very sophisticated and good-looking and all that, but let's never forget that we're made of flesh and blood.
In particular, our brains are incredibly complex evolved machines. Our brains govern basic processes such as breathing and food intake, and also enable us to appreciate the finer points of John Cleese's performances in Fawlty Towers."
Unfortunately not many in Sabah would know of John Cleese, has seen the amazingly rude (that one cannot help but laughed at) character performed by him in the British sitcom produced by BBC, 'Fawlty Towers,' to be able to learn lessons from the character. In fact majority within our society are people who would not even think or dream of watching any of those witty old English sitcom; so that the brains of most in our society to be able to appreciate finer points of performing arts or of learning and taking lessons from characters to improve personal habits would be expecting too much perhaps.
On that note; banners, stickers like those found in kindergartens could be useful to teach the general public on the importance to develop good habits by not spitting anywhere and anytime they feel like it, keep toilets clean and dry for their own 'self-respect,' and as mark of 'respect for others,' or the alternative: enforcements and penalties become the way and the way of life of the community as a whole.
The public perception of public toilets, toilets in shopping complexes and at our international airports in Sabah:
1) The floors are usually wet, inside and outside the cubicles. 'Clean toilets' to the cleaners apparently means that the toilets had been washed sometime that day; and wet floor could be evidence of, 'washed and clean.'
2) Toilets smell of ammonia (If you are looking for it, the smell would lead the way.)
3) There is no toilet paper inside the cubicle. Despite the usual .20 sen or .30 charges, the public still has to pay extra for, most times, are small packs of tissue paper that one get from the table at the entrance, for RM0.30.
4) The hose from the water taps inside the toilet cubicles look disgusting that one wonders who would touch or even use them.
5) There is no hook for ladies' handbags. (Ever thought of the dilemma for ladies with handbags and some with their shopping bags?
Both hands holding on to those and having to undo skirts or trousers at the same time?
Not every woman would have a friend along when they shop.)
6) Some locks of toilet cubicles are missing.
7) Most do not have washing liquid, dryer or paper towels.
8) Last but not least, noticed: The cleaners, in the shopping complexes are usually the same ones who collect money at the entrance and they are always busy chatting with friends or fellow cleaners.
