GEORGE TOWN, Nov 2 ― The Penang Island City Council (MBPP) will keep up enforcement action against illegal hotels who continue to flout registration rules, said state executive councillor Chow Kon Yeow.
The local government committee chairman said new and old hotels in the state have been given ample notice to apply for operating permits.
“I want to announce that all hotels that have yet to apply for permit can still apply and pay the corresponding fees for temporary permits but I want to warn that this doesn't mean we are stopping enforcement action,” he said in a press conference at Komtar today.
In the last few weeks, MBPP had taken enforcement action against hotels without permits by confiscating all items within the premises of the hotels such as furniture and all paraphernalia.
So far, four illegal hotels had their premises raided and all items confiscated.
“Of the four hotels we took action against,one of them had come forward to apply for a temporary permit,” he said.
The other three still have not come forward to apply for temporary permits and Chow warned that if they are found to have reopened their business, they might face a similar enforcement action.
The are two different categories of hotels that must apply for permits from the city council; Category A for existing hotels in the council's list and Category B for new hotels not in the list.
There are a total 191 hotels in Category A and out of the 191, 167 have applied for temporary permits while 24 had not made any applications.
“The 24 can still submit an application for a temporary permit to operate the business for a year at a rate of RM9,600,” he said.
Those in Category A who already had temporary permits can apply for renewals at RM7,200 if the application was made after October 31.
Chow said there are a total 30 hotels under category B and so far only five had submitted applications for temporary permits.
The fees for temporary permits under this category is also RM7,200 if they applied for it after October 31.
Under this category, there are also additional requirements as they must also submit other applications such as for rezoning, planning permission and conversion of land use.
“Those in this category that do not qualify for permits or did not attempt to apply for permits will face enforcement action,” he said.
He said this serves as another warning to all hotel operators to submit applications for the temporary permits now.
“We will not reveal when enforcement action will be taken but once we take action, those that did not attempt to apply for the permits will have to face it,” he said.
The temporary permits will only be for an annual basis to be effective from November 1 to October 31, 2016.
The council started legalising the growing number of hotels in the state two years ago and had given the hotels ample time and notice to apply for permits and temporary permits.
