SIBU: A clear policy needs to be formulated and the bylaws reviewed to regulate rooms-for-rent operation, said Ministry of Local Government and Community Development permanent secretary Datu Dr Penguang Manggil.
He said this was in view of the need to study the issues involved, referring to the current Hotel and Lodging Bylaws.
“Action can be taken against rooms-for-rent premises if they operate like a hotel or lodging house, but not in residential houses,” he told The Borneo Post on Monday.
He, however, said local authorities were not taking action, even against unlicensed small hotels.
“We need to formulate clear policy also on such premises with rooms for rent, and review bylaws to regulate them,” he explained.
In fact, Sarawak Central Region Hotels Association had voiced its grave concern over the mushrooming of rooms-for-rent (‘bilik sewa’) which might not have proper safety features and approval.
At a press conference here on Monday, its chairman Johnny Wong Sie Lee said they had highlighted the matter several times, and called for actions to be taken against the operators.
Wong described rooms-for-rent as easy to set up, needing only a trading licence, hence prompting more people to set up such business.
“We are facing a very serious problem in ‘bilik sewa’ where shop houses can easily be partitioned into rooms to be let out. And whether they comply with the safety requirements of the authorities, we do not know as there had not been any feedback.
“We had raised the issues several times but were told there was no proper law to act on such business,” lamented Wong.
He said from information gathered, budget hotels were not the only ones hard hit by rooms-for-rent but also star-rated ones.
“We hope the relevant authority will review the bylaws if they are out-dated to enable them to regulate the operations of rooms-for-rent,” Wong asserted.
When contacted, Sibu Municipal Council deputy chairman Daniel Ngieng told the association to come forward if it had proof.
Meanwhile, Wong gave a sigh of relief that ‘homestay-like’ facilities found in Kuching had yet to make their way here.
He claimed that the facilities refurbished like hotels had attracted visitors in big groups such as church associations, students and so on.
He further claimed that some licensed hotels had extended their rooms without approval.
Wong hoped that the council would take strict action against these operators.