Zuraida: Airbnb issue to be finalised by year-end
The standardisation of several issues, including regulations, licensing and taxes involving the hotel sector and global online accommodation service provider, Airbnb, will be finalised by the end of this year.
Housing and Local Government Minister Zuraida Kamaruddin said the standardisation would take into account various aspects and determine the best methods beneficial to both parties as Airbnb had the potential to contribute to the national economy.
“The matter is still under discussion as to how we want to classify Airbnb as we have to take into account the agreement to allow private homes to be involved with the sector as well as discussions with the management bodies in housing estates.
“It involves the Housing and Local Government Ministry together with the Tourism, Arts and Culture Ministry, the state government and the Malaysian Productivity Corporation (MPC) to find a way on how we can standardise the issue as a whole,” she told reporters after the inauguration ceremony of the Taman Murai Jaya Community Hub in Durian Tunggal yesterday.
On Monday, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Economic Affairs) Datuk Seri Mustapa Mohamed was reported to have said that the government would finalise the standardisation of a number of issues, including regulations and taxes involving hotels and Airbnb, in an effort to help the sector which was severely affected by Covid-19.
In another development, Zuraida said RM300,000 had been allocated to the Hang Tuah Jaya Municipal Council to implement flood mitigation projects.
“It includes the maintenance of the drainage system around the council’s area due to frequent floods and we hope it will improve the administrative system and services to the people,” she said. Earlier, the Taman Murai Jaya Community Hub project was officiated by state housing, local government and environment committee chairman Datuk Seri Abdul Ghafar Atan.
The project, developed at a cost of RM50,000, consists of a mini library and learning space, our garden project and a low-carbon initiative through the provision of bicycles for the use of residents.