The Ministry of Housing and Local Government (KPKT) must immediately improve the enforcement of short-term accommodation guidelines (STA) to curb the change of use of units in stratified residential buildings without permission

The matter was raised by Penang Island City Council (MBPP) councilor, Lee Kim Noor at the adjournment speech session of the Ordinary Council Meeting No. 10/2021 which was held online through the Zoom Meeting on 25 October 2021.

According to Kim Noor, the law on STA in the state is very clear that stratified residential units cannot be turned into Airbnb unless there is a change of use of the building.

Also raised was the proposal that cases related to the change of use of short-term accommodation and its enforcement be brought to the Strata Management Tribunal Court.

“And in this way, the occupants of the stratified residential building can sleep soundly without having to worry about Airbnb rental in the adjacent unit.

“Furthermore, in the COVID-19 outbreak situation where some parties rented the Airbnb unit as a quarantine place apart from the problem of noise, garbage and damage to common property,” he said.

In the same session, Kim Noor also praised the latest initiative introduced by the local authority, namely the ‘i-Temu’ platform, an appointment system for visitors who wish to meet with the relevant departments in MBPP.

“However, the method (to some extent) hinders the ability of taxpayers because they have to spend to buy quick test kits.

“So, I would like to suggest additional initiatives to the platform (i-Temu) where taxpayers can choose to use hotlines, emails, video calls via WhatsApp (applications) or WhatsApp (messages).

“Each option must be given a complaint reference number and the name of the officer involved along with an email.

“I know that all this has been prepared but the indicators of each complaint are not given due attention,” he explained.

The meeting was chaired by Dato’ Ar. Yew Tung Seang (Mayor of MBPP) through teleconference, attended by Council Members, relevant department heads and senior officials.

Earlier, the Mayor of MBPP, Dato ’Ar. Yew Tung Seang chaired the Ordinary Meeting of the Council by teleconference which was also attended by Council Members, department heads and relevant senior officials.

Source; Buletin Mutiara