Urgent need for tighter enforcement on illegal homestays, says MAH

THERE is a need for tighter enforcement on illegal temporary accommodations which are increasing as tourism picks up following the Covid-19 pandemic.

According to the newly re-elected Malaysian Association of Hotels (MAH) vice-president Datuk Khoo Boo Lim, there are both the illegal homestays and the accommodation sharing services provider - Airbnb which have mushroomed but have a scintillating effect on hotels in the country.

It is believed that there are 350,000 registered hotel rooms in the country, of which an additional half more may be in the category of unregulated homestays.

"We welcome healthy competition such as Airbnb but there must be a level playing field. They also need to be regulated with proper fire and safety checks," said Khoo in his maiden interview since he reassumed his post.

A veteran hotelier, Khoo said that there is now concern that more developers are using the Airbnb concept to market their projects to new buyers.

"The online world is filled with new condominium projects which offer investors a chance to buy, rent it out to tenants and to make returns from the rentals."

The developers would sell the units, lease it back for Airbnb and the rental is shared between them as operators and with the unit owners, he said.

"This way, developers need not build a hotel where the conditions are higher and pricier. They just become leaseholders."

The local authorities need to clamp down on such arrangements, said Khoo.

He hopes that tighter enforcement can also be done throughout the country.

While praising Penang for taking the initiative to regulate Airbnb operators, the former E & O Hotel executive said that enforcement needs to be strict, and strata titled management corporations need to prevent their members from leasing out the units.

He hopes that tighter enforcement can be done ahead of next year's Visit Malaysia Year campaign, where much hope is pinned on inbound tourism making a mark.

This is in view that the country's economy is sluggish with the global trade uncertain due to the prevailing and punitive import tariffs imposed by the United States (US).

One avenue to cope with the negativity of the uncertainty, is to boost domestic consumption and to lure more tourists over, who can help the country earn foreign currency , said Khoo.

Khoo also urged tourism planners to conduct targeted marketing by focusing more on luring tourists, who are willing to splurge during their vacations.

"While all forms of tourists are welcome, including the budget - conscious types, there is a need for tourists to spend more because operational costs have gone up, especially wages in view of the growing inflation, especially from food imports," he said. - May 31, 2025.

𝗠𝗔𝗟𝗔𝗬𝗦𝗜𝗔𝗡 𝗔𝗦𝗦𝗢𝗖𝗜𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡 𝗢𝗙 𝗛𝗢𝗧𝗘𝗟𝗦 𝗕𝗢𝗔𝗥𝗗 (𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟱-𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟴 𝗧𝗘𝗥𝗠)

𝗣𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁: Datin Christina Toh, Dorsett Kuala Lumpur

​𝗩𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝗣𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀:

1. Shirley Lai, Sfera Residence Kuala Lumpur City Centre

2. Lim Choong Sean, Legoland Hotel

3. Datuk Khoo Boo Lim, Macalister Terraces

𝗛𝗼𝗻𝗼𝗿𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝗦𝗲𝗰𝗿𝗲𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝗚𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗹: Datuk Megat Shahrul Azman Abas, 

FELDA Residence Hot Springs

​𝗛𝗼𝗻𝗼𝗿𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝗧𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘀𝘂𝗿𝗲𝗿 𝗚𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗹: Maggie Ong Mooi Kee, MH Hotel Ipoh

​𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗽𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗶𝗿𝗽𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗼𝗻𝘀:

1. 𝗞𝗲𝗱𝗮𝗵 & 𝗣𝗲𝗿𝗹𝗶𝘀: Eugene Dass, Star City Hotel Alor Setar

2. 𝗣𝗲𝗻𝗮𝗻𝗴: Datuk Tony Goh, St. Giles Wembley Premier Hotel

3. 𝗣𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗸: Tony Wong, 1969 Business Suites

4. 𝗦𝗲𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗼𝗿: Datin Jasmine Abdullah Heng, Dorsett Grand Subang

5. 𝗞𝘂𝗮𝗹𝗮 𝗟𝘂𝗺𝗽𝘂𝗿: B E Lim, The Gardens – a St Giles Signature Hotel and Residences

6. 𝗡𝗲𝗴𝗲𝗿𝗶 𝗦𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗮𝗻: Haziz Hassan, Sutera Hotel

7. 𝗠𝗲𝗹𝗮𝗸𝗮: Khairulnizam Kasim, Kings Hotel

8. 𝗝𝗼𝗵𝗼𝗿: Ivan Teo, Millesime Hotel

9. 𝗣𝗮𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗴: Charles Peter, Shahzan Hotel Kuantan

10. 𝗧𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗴𝗴𝗮𝗻𝘂: Hajah Suaibah Harun, Primula Beach Hotel

11. 𝗞𝗲𝗹𝗮𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗻: Gan Yeong Shuoh, Grand Riverview Hotel

12. 𝗦𝗮𝗿𝗮𝘄𝗮𝗸: John Teo, Meritz Hotel Miri

13. 𝗦𝗮𝗯𝗮𝗵 & 𝗟𝗮𝗯𝘂𝗮𝗻: Hafizan Wong, Promenade Hotel Kota Kinabalu

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