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Crackdown on Penang illegal hotels
Illegal hotels on the Malaysian island of Penang have until October 31 to obtain a permanent full license or face closure.
Local government committee chairman Chow Kon Yeow said there are 156 hotels with temporary permits.
The one-year temporary permits were issued while hoteliers go through due process to become fully licensed.
"Their temporary permits will expire on October 31, so all these hotels must apply for their full licenses by submitting their building plans to the council within a six-month period," Chow said.
Chow said the island has 130 additional hotels which already hold full licenses and a further 52 illegal hotels which have not yet applied for a temporary permit.
The Penang government began cracking down on the unlicensed hotel trade last March ordering all illegal hotels to apply for one-year temporary permit pending their application for full licenses.
"Hotels with temporary permits must now apply for full licenses and those without licenses after October 31 will be issued summons," Chow said.
All new hotels must go through the normal procedure of submitting their planning application before opening for business.
It was revealed around one-third of illegal hotels are located in the Georgetown UNESCO heritage zone, some of which are housed in listed buildings.
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