Panasonic Malaysia managing director Keisuke Nishida (sixth from left), SK Sentul 2 headmistress Norhayati Mustafa, Education Ministry deputy director of the private education division Aniza Kamarulzaman and Panasonic Malaysia Sdn Bhd (APM) general manager Shinichi Tsuda together with students of SK Sentul 2 at the campaign launch.
PANASONIC Malaysia unveiled its Rakan Bersih Ceria campaign today, aiming to raise awareness and promote good toilet hygiene standards and practices among primary school children in the country.
This initiative is deeply rooted in Panasonic’s century-old philosophy of contributing to society as envisioned by its founder and aligns with the company's tagline, ‘Create Today. Enrich Tomorrow.’
It is part of their ongoing endeavour to address school toilet cleanliness and enhance the overall well-being of Malaysians, shared Panasonic Malaysia managing director Keisuke Nishida.
In partnership with the Education Ministry, a highlight of this campaign was the installation of 301 manual bidet units in the school’s toilets as a means to significantly uplift their cleanliness and hygiene.
Education Ministry director of educational resources and technology division Aniza Kamarulzaman said in her opening speech that this initiative aligns with the government’s objective to provide a safe, clean and comfortable environment for students and teachers by upgrading and maintaining school facilities.
Nishida expressed his enthusiasm for the joint initiative, “We are very excited to launch this campaign with the Education Ministry’s support to foster healthier and more hygienic habits among school children.
“Panasonic’s identity is deeply rooted in Japanese culture with particular emphasis on practising cleanliness, which we believe is crucial in promoting better hygiene, reducing illness spread and improving overall health and well-being.
Nishida reflects on Panasonic Malaysia's commitment to fostering healthier habits and environments for the next generation.
“More essentially, by instilling good hygiene standards early on, we empower children to take responsibility for their hygiene and contribute towards maintaining a cleaner and healthier space for themselves and others,” said Nishida.
“Through this campaign, we hope to share our culture of cleanliness and envision a future where hygiene is not just a practice, but a lifestyle of cleanliness and healthy habits integral to student development,” he further added.
The campaign has involved 25 primary schools, reaching over 16,000 students across the Klang Valley.
It focuses on providing students with not only the tools but also the education necessary to maintain high hygiene standards and good restroom practices through informative and engaging workshops.
These workshops are designed to prepare students for life, encouraging them to adopt a hygienic lifestyle seamlessly.
They also included exciting and engaging activities designed to ensure students are well-prepared for life and naturally lead them toward embracing a hygienic lifestyle.
A post-workshop survey showed an 89% preference for bidet use, indicating a significant shift towards healthier hygiene habits among the students.
Informative and interactive workshops conducted by Panasonic representatives engage primary school students on the importance of personal hygiene.
Panasonic also provided educational materials, including posters that promote clean, comfortable, and eco-friendly bathroom practices, with a specific focus on bidet usage.
The bidet installed under this initiative in participating schools is the Panasonic Bidet AR15 model.
This bidet offers a hassle-free washing experience, enhancing the cleanliness of school toilets. Notably, the use of water, as opposed to toilet paper, provides a more hygienic and gentle solution for skin.
The Panasonic AR15 model in round shape variant installed in one of the participating schools’ toilet, enhancing students’ and teachers’ well-being.
Coupled with the Ag+ antibacterial properties on the seats, it eliminates up to 99% of bacteria on the surface, thus ensuring a more hygienic and comfortable toilet environment for school children.
This initiative not only provides students with the opportunity to understand the importance of hygiene but also actively learn and practice proper personal hygiene habits, mastering these essential routines from a young age.
For more information, check out the D-shape bidet variant and the round shape bidet variant. These are available for purchase at Hygienic EzyClean DL-AR15DWM – D-Shape (panasonic.com) and Hygienic EzyClean DL-AR15RWM – Round Shape (panasonic.com).
