The Terengganu branch of the Malaysian Association of Hotels (MAH) today denied a report that claimed hotels in Kuala Terengganu were charging exorbitant rates reaching as high as RM1,000 per night during the Kuala Terengganu parliamentary by-election.

Its president, Raja Kamarul Bahrin Shah Raja Ahmad Shah, said the association had carried out a probe and found no hotels in Terengganu charging excessive rates.

"It's different if the rate is for a Royal Suite and so on. For a normal room, I can vouch that the five-star hotels here are charging between RM180 and RM320 per room per night," he was quoted as saying by Bernama.

In Terengganu, there are 25 hotels under the three-star and five-star categories under the auspices of MAH with a total of 1,549 rooms, and the average rate is RM189.46 per night.

Negative publicity

It was reported recently that the Tourism Ministry would be conducting an investigation into claims that some hotels in Kuala Terengganu were charging exorbitant rates, some as high as RM1,000 per night, during the by-election.

Raja Kamarul Bahrin said such reports could give negative publicity to the tourists who might think twice about coming to Terengganu.

"I urge the people concerned to contact us if they have any doubt about the room tariff," he said.

He said a similar situation had occurred several years back when certain quarters issued statements claiming that all hotels in Terengganu had been fully booked for the Monsoon Cup race which was completely untrue.

On Friday, Tourism Minister Azalina Othman Said ordered for a probe into the matter, saying such high charges could affect tourism.

She warned that stern action would be taken against those responsible for the unscrupulous action, adding that the cabinet had been informed about the matter.