{
  "id": 15975530,
  "title": "The best seats in the house: Malaysia’s award-winning toilets",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/21/the-best-seats-in-the-house-malaysias-award-winning-toilets",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-21T23:30:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Free Malaysia Today",
    "slug": "free-malaysia-today-freemalays",
    "url": "https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/leisure/2026/10/22/the-best-seats-in-the-house-malaysias-award-winning-toilets"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Malaysia's Toilet of the Year Awards 2026 celebrated eight outstanding establishments across various categories, highlighting the importance of well-maintained public restrooms. Sunway Square Mall in Subang, Selangor, won the shopping centre award, while Petronas Presint 18 in Putrajaya claimed victory in the petrol station category. Travellers heading south on the North-South Expressway might seek solace at the Seremban southbound rest and service area, which earned the highway stop accolade. Kuala Lumpur's The Lotas (MamaKim) in Desa Sri Hartamas claimed the restaurant category title, and Iconic Marjorie Penang, a Tribute Portfolio Hotel in Bayan Lepas, received recognition for its hotel facilities. The winners also spanned other establishments, including Masjid Nurussalam in Gerik for places of worship and SK Tok Randok in Ajil, Terengganu for schools. Even municipal facilities were acknowledged, with Shah Alam City Council's public toilet at Tasik Barat, Section 14, earning a spot among the honourees. The awards, organized by the housing and local government ministry, attracted 849 entries, up from 345 in 2023. Each category winner received RM20,000, a trophy, and a certificate of recognition. The government's commitment to upgrading and maintaining public toilets through a RM150 million investment between 2026 and 2030 reflects the national pride in clean, attractive, and pleasant-smelling restrooms.",
  "summary": "From shopping malls to highway stops, eight facilities have been recognised for making an everyday necessity a more pleasant experience.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Free Malaysia Today",
        "title": "The best seats in the house: Malaysia’s award-winning toilets",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/21/the-best-seats-in-the-house-malaysias-award-winning-toilets-15976595",
        "published": "2026-10-21T23:30:00.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}