Penguang: Carry out enforcement, regularisation exercises
SIBU: Enforcement and regularisation exercises should be carried out on unlicensed hotels located in bigger towns in the state.
These were the two options mentioned by Assistant Minister of Local Government Datu Dr Penguang Manggil, when asked to comment on the issue of illegal hotels and actions taken by Miri City Council (MCC).
A surprise inspection conducted by Miri Fire and Rescue Department ( Bomba) and MCC on 20 unlicensed hotels in Miri had revealed that almost all these premises did not comply with the safety requirements for buildings enforced by the government.
Concerning the two options, Penguang revealed that the first option was to give notice to all hotels without licence to cease their operations. He ( Penguang), however, felt this option was too drastic and might impact negatively on the local economy.
“The second option is to go for regularisation exercise that is to request existing unlicensed budget hotels to submit plans to the relevant authorities to change the status of land use, comply with the Bomba’s safety requirements and the councils’ requirements in terms of public hygiene, among
The second option is to go for regularisation exercise that is to request existing unlicensed budget hotels to submit plans to the relevant authorities to change the status of land use, comply with the Bomba’s safety requirements and the councils’ requirements in terms of public hygiene, among others. Datu Dr Penguang Manggil, Assistant Minister of Local Government
others,” the Marudi assemblyman told The Borneo Post when contacted on Monday.
Meanwhile, state Bomba director Nor Hisham Mohammad disclosed that the department had prosecuted more than 10 budget hotels over the last three years and was in the process to tender another two to the public prosecutor. Asked if these hotels had licences, he said most of them have business licences but not to operate as hotels.
Nor Hisham said actions were taken against the 10 hotels because they failed to comply with the fire safety requirements, adding that four had since closed down.
“The fire safety compliance inspection on such premises is an ongoing exercise,” he stressed.
Sarawak Central Region Hotel Association chairman Johnny Wong Sie Lee, on the other hand said they had always emphasised on this matter (unlicensed hotels).
“We have passed the message to the relevant authorities for them to act,” Wong said.
Meanwhile, Bomba Zone 6 chief Supt Law Poh Kiong reportedly said among the offences committed by the operators of these unlicensed hotels were not having enough safety staircases; lack of the fire prevention system or if they had it, the system was in very bad condition; the nonexistence of or not having good fire escape routes; and failure to submit building plans for approval by Bomba and local council.
Malaysian Hotels Association Sarawak Chapter honorary secretary-general John Teo Peng Yew was quoted as saying the MCC must address urgently the issue of unlicensed hotels without proper fire prevention system.
He said this issue could tarnish the image of the tourism industry in Sarawak.