'Control of hotel check-in, check-out times beyond ministry purview'

PARLIAMENT | Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister Tiong King Sing today said control and enforcement of check-in and check-out times implemented by hotels are beyond the control of his ministry.

Speaking in the Dewan Rakyat, Tiong (above) revealed that the issue, which recently gained public attention, is under the purview of the state governments through local councils, as provided for under the Federal Constitution.

“The Tourism Industries Act 1992 or Act 482 provides the need for registration of tourism residential premises, including hotels.

“But the monitoring and enforcement of such operations do not fall under the ministry’s purview,” said the Bintulu MP.

Issues surrounding hotel check-in and check-out times made headlines after a guest took to social media to complain about being asked to check in at 4pm and told to pack up at 11am the next day.

Tiong today alluded to similar complaints and said his ministry through an engagement with hotel operators on Oct 17 had discussed the issue which was caused by a shortage of workers in the housekeeping department.

“Following the meeting, to further enhance hotel operations, the ministry will hold discussions with the Housing and Local Government Ministry, state governments and other stakeholders on the necessity to incorporate elements of control into Act 482,” he said.

To supplementary questions from Syed Abu Hussin Hafiz Syed Abdul Fasal (Independent-Bukit Gantang) and Syerleena Abdul Rashid (Harapan-Bukit Bendera) on suggestions to improve the quality of hotel services, Tiong reiterated the matter is beyond his ministry’s jurisdiction.

Yesterday, the Malaysian Hotel Owners Association (Maho) hit out at Tiong’s initial statement that it was “common practice” of hotels abroad to allow guests to stay for 23 hours.

Describing it as a suggestion which fails to make sense, Maho executive director Saharuddin M Saaid pointed to operational limitations, including housekeeping.

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