Homestays in Penang are allowed to operate as long as they are issued a licence to operate by the Tourism, Arts and Culture Ministry, says Jagdeep Singh Deo.

The state Local Government, Housing, Town and Country Planning Committee chairman said he had no qualms with homestays as long as they were given authority to operate.

“The problem now is the short-term stay at the apartments or condominiums.

“We don’t allow other people to come and stay at your next door for one or two days just like in a hotel.

“There are so many hotels here in Penang.

“I will recommend the state to ban short-term stay as I am taking care of the people in the housing scheme,” he told reporters after attending the launching of The Pawsible magazine in Gurney Plaza today.

Jagdeep noted there were plenty of problems with the number of homes offering short-term stays before the Covid-19 pandemic.

“As more sectors are resuming, we expect more complaints to come in as more people in the apartments are expected to be disturbed by the short-term stay.

“We are now looking at it,” he said.

Source: Buletin Mutiara