PENANG’s efforts to regulate short-term rental accommodation (STRA) could get a boost from a hackathon solution enabling real-time monitoring.
Designed to address the enforcement challenges faced by Penang Island City Council (MBPP) and Seberang Perai City Council (MBSP), it digitises a process that is currently largely dependent on manual checks and public complaints.
Dubbed GovSTRA, it was developed by Penang Convention and Exhibition Bureau (PCEB), which team won the RM2,000 top prize at the AI Hackathon for the Public Sector 2026 organised by Digital Penang.
PCEB marketing and communications senior executive Arvind S. Santhaselvan said Penang introduced guidelines in 2023 to regulate STRA operations, limiting it to 180 days per year for approved units, among other conditions.
“However, compliance remains a challenge due to the absence of a real-time tracking system,” he said at the event’s closing ceremony.
PCEB researcher J. Revin Samuel said the team focused on creating a practical solution that could automate compliance monitoring from the point guests entered a property.
He said the prototype was built using Amazon QuickSight and was designed to integrate council licensing departments with property management bodies.
“Guests scan a QR code at the guardhouse before checking in, submitting their particulars.
“The information is then shared with the building management and local councils, allowing every stay to be recorded automatically.
“The system calculates the total number of operating days for each unit and alerts authorities if it exceeds the state’s annual limit,” he said.
Revin said it provided enforcement officers with real-time visibility of STRA activities instead of relying solely on inspection or complaints.
“Building management bodies play an important role.
“If QR code registration is made compulsory before guests are allowed to enter, the process becomes transparent and much easier to enforce.
“Besides helping local councils regulate the industry, the platform also creates a fairer operating environment for legitimate STRA operators and the hotel industry by ensuring everyone follows the same rules,” he said, adding that the prototype will only move beyond the concept stage if the state government decides to adopt it.
Digital Penang chief executive officer Ng Kwang Ming said the hackathon was organised to encourage public officers to solve operational challenges instead of regarding artificial intelligence (AI) as just an emerging technology.
He said the programme supports the Penang2030 vision and Penang Digital Economy Master Plan (DEMP) by cultivating innovation and accelerating digital transformation across the public sector.
Participants underwent hands-on workshops using Amazon QuickSight before developing low-code and no-code prototypes for issues faced by their respective agencies.
“The objective was not to produce a perfect product but to build confidence and capability.
“When public officers are willing to experiment, innovate and develop solutions for problems they encounter daily, digital transformation becomes part of the public service culture.”
Ng also thanked strategic partner Ashisuto Global Technologies, main sponsor Amazon Web Services (AWS), judging panel and the 14 teams for making the hackathon a success.
Penang Hill Corporation won the first runner-up RM1,500 prize, while the State Assembly Department under the State Secretary’s Office (PSUKPP) received RM1,000 as second runner-up.
Consolation prizes went to the Penang Green Council (PGC) and Chief Minister Incorporated (CMI).
Also present at the closing ceremony were former Penang entrepreneurial development, trade and industry committee chairman Datuk Abdul Halim Hussain and CMI general manager Datin Bharathi Suppiah.
