(Kuala Lumpur, 25th) Many people assume that dishwashing sponges are constantly in contact with dishwashing liquid and are therefore “self-cleaning,” so they do not need special washing and can be used for a long time. In reality, studies show that dishwashing sponges are among the dirtiest items in the home, containing up to 200,000 times more bacteria than a toilet. If used daily, it is recommended that they be replaced within one to two weeks at most.

A post by the Public Health Malaysia Facebook page explained that sponges become a “paradise” for bacteria because bacteria need three things to multiply quickly, which are food residue, moisture, and warmth. Dishwashing sponges that are soaked in detergent, remain constantly damp, and are filled with leftover food and grease provide an ideal breeding ground for foodborne pathogens such as E. coli, Salmonella, and Campylobacter.

The post added that if you go to your kitchen sink and smell your sponge, and it has a sour, moldy, or fishy odor, then what you are smelling is actually the waste gases released by millions of bacteria inside the sponge.

It pointed out that using such a smelly sponge to wash a child’s cup or utensils actually spreads these bacteria evenly across the surfaces of the items.

The page also explained that the correct way to handle a dishwashing sponge is to rinse it thoroughly with clean water after use, squeeze out the excess water, and place it on a ventilated rack to dry completely. Many people leave their sponges soaking overnight in soapy water, but this is a major mistake.

It further stated that dishwashing sponges also need regular disinfection because tap water and ordinary dishwashing liquid cannot kill the bacteria hidden inside the sponge’s pores. It is recommended to disinfect the sponge once a week by placing it in a bowl of water and heating it in a microwave for one to two minutes, or by soaking it in freshly boiled water so that the heat can kill the bacteria inside.

The page emphasized that dishwashing sponges have a very short lifespan. If used daily, they should not be used for more than one to two weeks. Even if the sponge is not damaged, it should still be replaced. If it starts to give off a sour smell after just a few days, that is a clear sign it should be discarded immediately.

It added that dishwashing sponges are inexpensive and not something worth holding on to. People should not risk a child getting diarrhea and being hospitalized just to save less than one ringgit on a sponge.

(Batu Gajah, 25th) — A Form 1 student claimed he was violently attacked by another Form 1 student in a school toilet. He was punched, had his clothes pulled, his head repeatedly slammed against the tiled floor, and was also kicked in the abdomen.

The victim said the incident occurred on the 21st, and more than 10 Form 1 and Form 2 students were present, watching.

Head slammed repeatedly, kicked in the stomach

The student, who lodged a police report at the Batu Gajah police station today accompanied by his mother, said the situation only stopped from worsening when a Bahasa Melayu teacher sent another student to look for him in the toilet.

He added that afterward, classmates told him someone had threatened to beat him again when he returned to school on Monday, leaving him feeling anxious and fearful.

He revealed that the student who attacked him had previously owed money to several classmates, one of whom is his friend.

Conflict allegedly started over debt collection

About two weeks ago, the victim had helped his friend ask the attacker to repay the debt, which may have triggered dissatisfaction and led to the incident.

“After four of his friends found out about the debt collection, two of them allegedly instigated and encouraged him to attack me,” he said.

He explained that on the Tuesday before the incident, during class, the attacker came to invite him to the toilet. Unsuspecting, he followed along. Upon entering, he saw more than 10 people already waiting inside, including the four Form 2 students mentioned earlier, leaving him shocked.

Locked in toilet before being attacked

“They locked the toilet door, and the student started punching me. I kept trying to dodge, but I accidentally kicked him once, after which he pulled me to the ground. Then they grabbed my shirt and slammed the back of my head forcefully against the floor. I felt intense pain and began to feel dizzy.”

Attack stopped after someone feared for his life

He said that in a dazed state, he heard someone shout, “Stop hitting him, he looks like he’s about to die!” Only then did the attacker stop slamming his head and instead kicked his abdomen a few times. The entire assault lasted about half an hour.

He added that the student sent by the teacher saw what was happening and immediately informed the teacher, which led to the incident being stopped.

Both students caned once

“The attacker did not appear in school that day or the next. On the third day, after understanding the situation, the discipline teacher caned both me and the attacker once each.”

He said that on Thursday, the school referred both him and the attacker to the school counselor.

After understanding the incident, the teacher advised that his parents should be informed and encouraged him to tell them the full truth.

Mother only informed later, lodges police report

The victim’s mother said her son did not mention the incident after school on Tuesday. Only after counseling on Thursday, and after thinking it over for a night, did he finally tell her the truth on Friday morning while she was driving him to school.

Mother worried about concussion

She said she was shocked and furious upon learning that her son’s head had been repeatedly slammed against the floor, and she is concerned about possible concussion or lasting effects. She decided to lodge a police report.

“The involvement of four Form 2 students in threatening and intimidating my child has made him extremely fearful and unwilling to attend school. I hope the police will take action against those involved, and that the school will provide a proper explanation.”

When contacted, the school’s board and administration stated that the matter has been handed over to the police and declined to comment further.