The Malaysian Association of Hotels Kuala Lumpur (MAH KL) has called for the finalization of guidelines for short-term rental accommodation (STRA) in order to create a fair playing field for all tourist accommodation premises. They argue that the current nature of STRA allows owners to avoid paying taxes such as the Sales and Services Tax (SST) or Tourism Tax, leading to a significant revenue gap for the government. Additionally, MAH KL points out that this practice poses safety and security risks.
In a recent incident, hundreds of guests were unable to check in to their apartment units at a condominium in Ipoh, resulting in their being stranded. MAH KL defended the joint management body of the condominium’s decision to ban short-term rental accommodation, as they are within their rights to regulate residential condominiums under the Strata Management Act.
While the national STRA guidelines are still being drafted by the Housing and Local Government Ministry and the Tourism, Arts, and Culture Ministry, MAH KL fully supports the actions taken by condominium management bodies to regulate STRA in their by-laws. They believe that more residential condominium management bodies in Kuala Lumpur should follow suit. Violators may be fined by the management under the Act.
MAH KL chairman Lim Boon Eow expressed hope that the STRA guidelines would be finalized and enforced before Visit Malaysia Year 2026. The Local Government Development Minister, Nga Kor Ming, had previously announced that a national short-term rental accommodation guide was being developed for adoption by all local authorities.
