Penang guesthouse operators who claim they are facing closure of their businesses, have no choice but to comply with local council regulations although they might be too restrictive and costly for them.

Despite handing over a memorandum detailing their problems, urging the federal government to intervene and help them, Tourism and Culture Minister Mohamed Nazri Abdul Aziz told them to obey council rules.

“When you want to convert a private home to be a commercial place to be rented out, you must comply with the local government,” Nazri said, during a press conference after attending the opening ceremony of the The World Tourism Conference in Penang.

“You have to be sure you can be a good guest and your guests will be well taken care of, in terms of security, and all that.

“There cannot be exceptions because of tourism. You can do whatever you want to your homes without complying with the requirement of your local government,” he stressed.

Nazri said other commercial businesses have complied with local government rules.

He added that although the guesthouse business is related to local community, the guests and their security should be of utmost importance to the operators.

“In this regard, my advice is that you have to comply with the local regulations because you are taking guests into your premises,” he said.

“Malaysians are hospitable people, but the security of guests is very important.”

Nazri said this during the press conference when asked to respond on the protest by Penang’s guesthouses operators who complained that they cannot afford to comply with local council rules as they are “too restrictive and costly”.

Thirty 30 operators staged a protest in front of the Eastern & Oriental Hotel today, where the conference was held, carrying banners and slamming the state government and Penang Island City Council for their policies.

Earlier, Nazri said there was no point building a five-star hotel in a community where a three-star hotel is suited.

“We have to balance, not just simply do something because you think it's good for tourism.

“You must do something that has impact on locals, whatever we do must benefit local community as these are important for sustainable development,” he said.

A total of 733 participants, including seven deputy ministers and 14 high profile speakers attended the global conference today, with Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng giving the keynote address.

During the press conference with Nazri, Lim endorsed the minister’s remarks, saying “tourism must have high impact and benefit local people”.

This is why Penang has always promoted the street food sold by the community with low-income group, Lim said.

“Penang complies and endorses tourism because it has greatest impact on street vendors with lowest income group."