Calling it “Berak Bersama Marissa Wong”, the title might be off-putting for some, but her reviews are honest and engaging. As a result, she has close to 150,000 followers on Facebook, Instagram and TikTok, making her a hot commode-ity.
“I have visited almost 300 toilets,” the 28-year-old told FMT Lifestyle – a perhaps unenviable boast. In fact, Wong arrived early for the interview and reviewed a shared restroom where the FMT office is located. For her rating, check out the video below!
What does she look out for? Cleanliness, ventilation, and the availability of water, toilet paper and alcohol wipes for the toilet seat, among others.
While her content has certainly gone down well, one can’t help but wonder: how did all this come about?
“Once, I was using my phone in a toilet that wasn’t so pleasant,” she recalled. “That’s when I realised that although many people do food reviews, no one reviews toilets. It’s just as important – perhaps even more so.”
Her videos were initially in English, but she eventually realised the social media algorithm was targeting viewers from the US and UK.
“This year, I decided to do a simpler version with a voiceover in Malay because I want to reach Malaysians. Those living overseas don’t necessarily relate to using a bidet or having wet toilets,” she said.
That was when she introduced the line “Mari Kita Berak Bersama Marissa Wong” in her videos. “I try to make it as funny as possible, so that it’s not so sensitive and viewers are more comfortable.”
Wong, who hails from Subang Jaya, is of Chinese and Thai parentage. She isn’t just a content creator: she holds a full-time job as a communications manager in a fintech company, and also does stand-up comedy.
Notably, Wong has a bigger mission beyond toilet humour: she hopes to compel Malaysians to appreciate public facilities.
“Most public toilets are destroyed by Malaysians themselves. We don’t do that in our homes. Or they use them without caring about the next user,” she said, adding that many eateries – especially those that are popular – also neglect the hygiene of their toilets. “I feel this needs to be addressed now.”
With more people speaking openly about the issue, she admits to have seen improvements in the condition of toilets over the past two years. Still, she believes more can and should be done.
“Education is very important. If there’s a flush (function), why won’t people use it? Some people spray water on the wall when using a bidet or throw the hose on the floor after using it. No matter how well the toilet is maintained, it will be ruined if we have people like that.”
‘Berak girl’
Wong’s early reviews were of toilets she visited spontaneously. These days, however, her fans offer suggestions.
And while her reviews aren’t always sweet-smelling, there have certainly been some funny moments along the way. “Recently, a kid came up to me and said, ‘I know you! You’re the berak girl! You film in the toilet!'” she said with a laugh.
On several occasions when Wong dined in restaurants, her reputation preceded her. “I saw the owners or staff rushing to clean their toilets. Then they came over and said, ‘You can visit our toilet. It’s really clean.’”
Meanwhile, petrol station owners have thanked her for reviewing their facilities. “They want people to know that they have clean toilets, especially those at R&R stops.”
For all her potty talk, Wong hopes that by being critical about public loos, she will inspire others to be critical and conscientious in turn.
“In the future, I hope there will be an app to help people to find the nearest toilet and read reviews,” she said. “Anyone in the public can post or update reviews. Students can also post about toilets in their school if they aren’t clean.”
More importantly, she hopes to inspire young people to speak out on other issues in a humorous manner, as she does. “If the younger generation starts reviewing potholes or dangerous bumps, it could spur the government to do something.”