LETTERS: The homestay business is mushrooming in many parts of the country, especially in tourist hotspots. At the same time, many are unlicensed.
It is high time to roll out a legislation to regulate homestays to ensure customers' safety besides protecting neighbours.
A recent report in a local daily titled "Datuk Seri among 25 arrested at a wild party in Janda Baik" is not only shocking but also depressing.
With the tip-off from the locals, the police raided a "wild party" smacking of drugs at a bungalow in Janda Baik, Bentong.
Obviously, the neighbours would be annoyed by such activities in their locality.
In this regard, the owner of the bungalow must be held responsible for allowing activities that are against the law.
Surely he cannot plead ignorance mainly because he had designated the entire premises as a homestay for a fee.
While the initial purpose of allowing homestays was noble, namely to allow the public to stay with a family offering the homestay services, with or without a fee, or for purposes of getting to learn the culture and tradition of the household.
The recent incident, however, reveals that some have abused the homestay. Irresponsible customers have misused the premises for illegal activities.
Hence, regulating and licensing the homestay business is urgently required to ensure that, first, the premises let for homestay is not misused or abused. Second is to make the owner determine that the premises let for homestay is not used for illegal activities.
PROFESSOR DATUK SERI DR ASHGAR ALI ALI MOHAMED
International Islamic University Malaysia
The views expressed in this article are the author's own and do not necessarily reflect those of the New Straits Times