KUCHING: Owners of commercial premises used to operate accommodation businesses must ensure their buildings meet fire safety standards.
Tourism Minister Datuk Amar Abang Johari Tun Openg said the call is extended to owners of hotels including bed and breakfast, homestays, backpackers hostel and inns to ensure their premises are covered by a fire certificate.
The Tourism Ministry, in collaboration with local councils and Bomba, has formed a taskforce to inspect and regulate all commercial lots into providing basic facilities on fire safety.
Accommodations are also required to be licensed.
“The Tourism Ministry has established a taskforce led by permanent secretary Datu Ik Pahon Joyik to look into hotel premises without fire certificates. This includes bed and breakfast, homestays, inns and backpacker hostel accommodation.
“Due to the increase in tourists, where a certain segment prefers to stay in the backpacker type of hotels, lots of new hotels that provide this accommodation concept rent commercial buildings and premises not designed for inn or hotel type accommodation.
“Now we need to regulate these premises,” Abang Johari who is also Housing Minister told a press conference after officiating at the opening of Citadines Uplands Kuching here yesterday. The 215 unit service residence property is Ascott’s 17th property to open in the Asia Pacific.
He was responding to a question on hotels operating without fire certificates.
Also present were Ik Pahon, The Acott Limited regional general manager for Malaysia and Singapore Tan Boon Khai, Kuching City South mayor Datuk James Chan, Kenbest Sdn Bhd managing director Stephen Long and executive director Sim Ewe Kee.
Abang Johari told business and building owners that their premises might have to be renovated to meet fire safety regulations.
“One example are hotels without elevators. In some cases, the staircase was built for normal shoplot requirement but this can be hazardous and not meet safety standard. As for homestays, most do not have sufficient fire safety facilities,” he continued.
He said the taskforce has started to meet commercial premise owners to discuss the matter.
In addition, hotel businesses without fire certificates will have their operating licences revoked.
On another note, Abang Johari reminded accommodation businesses to register their tourists for safety reasons.