KUALA LUMPUR: Close to 900 hotels are registered in Malaysia as of June this year, the Dewan Rakyat was told.
Housing and Local Government Minister Nga Kor Ming said Kuala Lumpur recorded the highest number of hotels with 129.
Selangor had the second highest number of hotels at 88 followed by Penang (84); Johor (74); Melaka (68); Sarawak (62); Pahang (61); Perak (57); Sabah (53); Kedah (40); Negri Sembilan (35); Terengganu (31); Kelantan (19); and Labuan (12).
Putrajaya and Perlis meanwhile had the lowest number of hotels, with only eight each, said Nga who cited figures from the Tourism, Arts and Culture Ministry.
Nga added that the Town and Country Planning Department (PlanMalaysia) has completed drafting guidelines for short-term rental accommodations (STRA).
“It will be presented to the Cabinet by both the Housing and Local Government Ministry as well as the Tourism, Arts and Culture Ministry (Motac),” he said in a parliamentary written reply on Tuesday (Aug 19).
He said the guidelines aim to regulate short-term rentals and will be carried out comprehensively by the local authorities.
It aims to overcome issues like disturbances, unregistered STRA’s and those that do not provide services on par with commercial premises like hotels.
“STRA operators will also have to register with the Companies Commission of Malaysia and obtain a licence and permit from local authorities, alongside having insurance coverage to ensure operations are on par with the hotel industry.
“Premises owners will also have to register with Motac once they obtain approval from local authorities,” he said.
Nga was responding to a question by Tan Hong Pin (PH-Bakri) who asked about plans to introduce a national guideline that differentiates the types of STRAs for regulation purposes, ensuring fair competition with the hotel industry.
He also asked about the number of hotels across Malaysia.
