When you’re travelling, finding a clean toilet shouldn’t have to be a whole mission.
But for one Malaysian woman, the toilets she encountered during a trip to Kelantan left such a bad impression that she took to Threads to vent. And several users who identified themselves as Kelantanese said they understood her frustration.
Couldn’t find a clean, dry toilet
In her post, Threads user @hanamansor claimed she had not come across a toilet that was both clean and dry throughout her visit, including those at markets and eateries.
She also complained that many had a similar unpleasant smell, which she suspected might have come from the borehole water being used.
There wasn’t a single toilet that was dry and clean, whether at the market or at eateries,” she wrote.
Comparing her experience with public toilets in Cyberjaya, where she lives, she said the difference was significant.
Even well-known eateries disappointed her
In a follow-up post, she claimed that toilets at well-known restaurants she visited were also dirty, wet and smelled of urine.
She added that a branded coffee outlet had put up a notice stating that there was no water.
While she praised Kelantan’s food, she felt the cleanliness of the toilets she encountered fell short.
Her frustration also led her to question whether toilet hygiene was being given enough importance.
A two-day trip with repeated disappointments
Speaking to WeirdKaya, Hana Mansor shared that she visited Kelantan from October 25 to 26, spending time in Kota Bharu.
During the trip, she and her travel companions stopped at toilets in restaurants, markets, petrol stations and coffee shops, as well as tourist spots such as Kampung Laut.
She said her disappointment had started early in the visit, as she claimed she kept encountering toilets that were not clean.
However, the experience that stood out most was at a well-known restaurant.
My most disappointing experience was using the toilet at a famous restaurant in Kelantan. It was dirty, the floor was wet, and the overall condition was disgusting,” she told WeirdKaya.
For Hana, seeing such conditions at popular eateries also made her question the hygiene of the food being served.
She wasn’t expecting a luxurious toilet
Hana explained that her expectations were simple, especially for restaurants serving large numbers of customers.
For a restaurant that receives so many customers, cleanliness should be a priority. I’m not expecting a luxurious toilet, just one that is clean, dry and comfortable.”
She added that maintaining clean facilities was about more than appearances.
Cleanliness isn’t about luxury. It’s about health and respect for customers.”
She says her intention wasn’t to insult Kelantan
Addressing the reaction to her post, Hana stressed that she had not intended to insult Kelantan or its people.
Instead, she hoped people would be willing to accept criticism and improve the conditions she had highlighted.
I have no intention of insulting Kelantan or its people. However, we need to be willing to accept feedback and address our shortcomings.”
She added that raising concerns about cleanliness should not automatically be treated as an attack on the state.
Criticising cleanliness issues doesn’t mean insulting the state. It means asking for the standards that should already be there.”
Some Kelantanese said they avoid public toilets too
Her post drew responses from several users who identified themselves as Kelantanese, with some sharing similar experiences.
One commenter said she would rather head home than use a public toilet unless she had no other choice.
“Even as a Kelantanese, I wouldn’t use public toilets in Kelantan unless it was really urgent. I’d rather go home to relieve myself.”
Another said her family generally avoided public toilets, apart from those at certain petrol stations they knew were well maintained.
The commenter also argued that maintenance alone would not solve the problem if users did not practise proper toilet etiquette.
Meanwhile, a woman who said she had moved to Kota Bharu about 10 years ago felt the issue went beyond the water supply. She pointed to litter in public spaces and said people’s cleanliness habits also played a part.
Comparison with Cyberjaya draws pushback
However, not everyone agreed with her choice of comparison.
Some questioned why she was comparing Kelantan with Cyberjaya, while another commenter said she preferred to focus on enjoying holidays with her children.
Responding, the woman explained that she had used Cyberjaya as a reference because it was where she lived.
She also stressed that enjoying a holiday did not mean she could not raise concerns about dirty toilets.
In another reply, she revealed that her husband was Kelantanese too, joking that he had not taken offence at her comments.
Suggestions to use mosque toilets
Several users suggested stopping at mosques for toilet breaks instead, although experiences differed. One commenter recommended them as a cleaner option, while another claimed some mosque toilets were poorly maintained too.
The woman, however, questioned why customers should have to look elsewhere in the first place, asking whether that meant the eateries themselves were not prioritising cleanliness.
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