KUALA LUMPUR — Short-term rental accommodation (STRA) planning guidelines are undergoing final review by the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture (MOTAC), state governments and local authorities before Cabinet approval.
Deputy Housing and Local Government Minister Datuk Aiman Athirah Sabu said the guidelines, which will govern such rentals under platforms like AirBnB, will become a “uniformed source of authority” for an economic sector that is expanding but is not cohesively regulated.
“The document is now in the final review stage with MOTAC before being raised for the Cabinet’s consideration.
“The document will also be tabled at the National Council for Local Government (MNKT) for mutual agreement before being adopted by state and local authorities nationwide,” she said during the question-and-answer session in the Dewan Rakyat today, Bernama reports.
The government wants to legalise STRAs nationwide by ensuring that registered premises which are fully compliant with local authority licensing conditions can operate.
“Under this framework, strata premises remain bound by the provisions and by-laws of their respective Joint Management Bodies (JMB) or Management Corporations (MC) under the Strata Management Act 2013.
“To ensure full compliance, the government is also encouraging strategic cooperation with digital platform companies to implement an automatic licence status verification mechanism before any premises is listed,” Aiman Athirah said.
She was responding to a question from Syerleena Abdul Rashid (PH-Bukit Bendera) on provisions requiring short-term accommodation platforms to verify licence status, delist unlicensed premises and regulate such operations.
Aiman Athirah said digital platform providers must take responsibility for delisting premises that are unlicensed or in breach of local authority conditions and existing laws, while enforcement agencies hold the legal power to act firmly against recalcitrant operators.
“Local authorities and enforcement agencies have the right to take legal action under the Town and Country Planning Act 1976 and the Street, Drainage and Building Act 1974, as well as by-laws, against stubborn operators and to ensure listings of illegal accommodation on service provider portals are blocked,” she said.
Aiman Athirah praised the Penang state government for moving ahead in regulating the sector through the gazetting of local by-laws.
“Penang has implemented the Guidelines for the Operation of Private Accommodation in Strata Property Schemes from April 1, 2023 and has enforced the Private Accommodation (Local Authority) By-Laws from Aug 1, 2026,” she said.
On the proposal to cap rentals at 180 nights, Aiman Athirah said a regulatory impact assessment had already been carried out during the preparation of the initial regulatory framework.
“Any cap must take into account the opportunity for premises to generate income while meeting the needs of the tourism industry, and must also prioritise public safety and order as well as the wellbeing of residents,” she said. – October 26, 2026