Kota Kinabalu International Airport toilets undergo major RM11.8 mln refurbishment

KOTA KINABALU (Jan 29): Kota Kinabalu International Airport (KKIA) is undergoing a major public toilet refurbishment programme costing about RM11.8 million, with most facilities expected to be completed by April or May.

KKIA airport manager Jefry Ramli said this during an inspection of the project.

Assistant Minister to the Chief Minister Datuk Joniston Bangkuai, who led the inspection, said the visit was part of his responsibility overseeing Kota Kinabalu City Hall (DBKK) and aimed at ensuring public facilities at Sabah’s main gateway meet acceptable standards.

“This visit is not about finding fault with anyone, but to see what steps have been taken and what more needs to be done to make sure facilities at the airport, including public toilets, are at the best level,” he said.

Joniston said issues related to cleanliness, public toilets, and basic amenities had been raised during his first meeting with DBKK’s senior management, including concerns involving KKIA.

“Kota Kinabalu International Airport is the main entry point into Sabah, so we want to ensure not only toilets, but also lighting, seating, parking facilities, and congestion issues are properly addressed,” he said.

He stressed continuous monitoring is vital to maintain cleanliness standards.

“There must always be someone assigned to keep an eye on every toilet so that any unclean condition can be acted on quickly,” he said, adding that conditions captured in photographs may not reflect the overall situation.

Jefry said the refurbishment involves all 26 public toilets at the airport, including facilities for persons with disabilities (OKU) and is being carried out in phases to minimise disruptions.

“The total cost of improving the toilets at KKIA is about RM11.8 million, and this reflects our commitment to providing the best facilities to airport users,” he said, adding 17 toilets have been completed.

“When this project is completed, almost all toilets at KKIA will have a new look.”

Addressing complaints such as wet floors or water issues, Jefry explained that such defects would be addressed during the defect liability period after the toilet open for use.

“For every refurbished toilet, there is a defect liability period of one year. When issues arise during actual use, we will instruct the contractor to rectify them immediately,” he said.

He shared that KKIA currently handles an average of between 23,000 and 24,000 passengers daily, with numbers reaching up to 30,000 during peak seasons.

The number of toilets will be sufficient once refurbishment works are completed, he said.

Jefry also said toilet cleaners work in three shifts round the clock, with more than 60 workers per shift deployed across the airport.

“In terms of manpower, there is no issue. We have sufficient personnel assigned to each toilet and public area,” he said.