IPOH: The Perak Hotel Enactment for boarding houses will regulate and control issues concerning the safety, cleanliness and nuisance of such sites, says Sandrea Ng Shy Ching.
The state housing and local government committee chairman said this enactment would replace the Boarding House Enactment 1927.
She said for the past 96 years, such lodging places have been depending on the Boarding House Enactment, but the industry has expanded according to the needs.
She said the enactment includes all lodging places such as hotels, homestays, chalets, houseboats, and camping tents.
“A long and detailed discussion on the enactment, as well as taking into account all angles has been looked at, with views from stakeholders taken into consideration for the past one year.
“There is a need to get accurate data on such lodging providers, and more importantly, to monitor the safety and cleanliness aspects,” she told a press conference after tabling the Enactment Bill at the state assembly sitting here on Monday (May 22).
During the debate of the enactment, Opposition assemblymen had raised concerns, especially for those running such boarding houses in the rural areas.
The assemblymen were concerned about the fee structure that could affect those running such businesses in these areas.
Ng said during the discussions held, several questions including matters pertaining to fees had been raised.
“What is more important is that these places are regulated first. When coming up with the fee structure, the views of the stakeholders will be taken into consideration.
“This enactment is to help solve issues, and not to create problems,” she added.
Ng said Pahang had already approved a similar enactment in 2020, which was then enforced in 2021.
She said with proper licences, the issues of tragedies such as what happened in a campsite in Batang Kali last year could be prevented.
“The enactment is one method to control licensing which is important to increase the quality of the place.
“The standardised method will get more repeat tourists due to safe tourism. It will also help the state to plan better,” she said.
