SEVERAL residents in Taman Seputeh, Kuala Lumpur, are having sleepless nights ever since a landed property in their neighbourhood was turned into a homestay and event space.
Resident CK Hong said the occupants would often hold weddings and parties until well past midnight.
He said the residents had complained to the authorities about loud noise from that house and the occupants would get a stern warning from the authorities.
“However, when another group comes into the homestay, the same problem happens again.
“They even have crews filming outside and the noise from the generator is very loud,” Hong said during a press conference about the house that has been running as rental property for two years.
He said as many as six crews had rented the property to carry out filming.
“The most recent one was a few days ago and they took about a week to film.
“When I asked whether they had a permit to film, they said that they did but could not show proof.
“The worst experience was in July last year when a film crew blocked the entrance to my house,” Hong said.
He added that such events had led to an influx of outsiders and even food trucks.
Taman Seputeh Residents Association chairman Dr Balaeswaran Poobalasingam said he had written to Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) but nothing had been done.
“Under section 18(1) Town and Country Planning Act 1976, land use must be according to the local government’s approved plans,” he said.
“In this case, the house is categorised as ‘residential’ under the gazetted Kuala Lumpur City Plan 2020 (KLCP2020) which is also being used in the draft KLCP2040.”
DBKL in a letter addressed to Dr Balaeswaran on Sept 6 stated that as of now, licence applications for any short-term accommodation other than hotel activities had not been implemented.
Kuala Lumpur Advisory Board member Carmen Leong, who was present at the press conference, said a check discovered that the most recent filming activity was for Jalan Taman Seputeh, but no permit was given for neighbourhood roads.
“The permit was also from 8am to 11.59am and not for the whole week.
“I urge DBKL to be more vigilant when giving out filming permits,” she said.
Leong said there were currently no policies on homestays in residential areas, and that she would bring up the matter with mayor Datuk Seri Maimunah Mohd Sharif.
Also present were personnel from DBKL’s Licensing and Business Development Department as well as Urban Transport Department.
