THE Malaysian Association of Hotels (MAH) has urged Airbnb to suspend operations immediately to help the government contain the spread of Covid-19. 

MAH said a Joint Management Body of a posh serviced residence in the heart of Kuala Lumpur had notified its owners and residents through a circular, of a confirmed Covid-19 case involving an Airbnb guest in the condominium.

The association said the lack of registration information, guest services and support, emergency preparedness and basic standard operating procedures by the home-sharing platform pose critical risks to the country’s crisis management, leaving its citizens vulnerable to external threats. 

“We urge Airbnb to do the right thing and suspend all operations immediately to assist governments worldwide in containing Covid-19. 

“Human lives are at stake. Please set aside profitability and prioritise on keeping people safe,” said MAH chief executive officer Yap Lip Seng.

He said Airbnb must set more stringent host criteria on safety, security and health protection, adding that most platforms do not have local presence in the locations they are operating, hence lack accountability or the sense of social and community responsibility. 

“The Covid-19 outbreak has taught all of us in the tourism industry a valuable lesson, and we hope home-sharing platforms, hosts and operators (such as Airbnb) can be a responsible stakeholder and deliver their part in ensuring a sustainable tourism industry,” Yap said.

These platforms cannot just issue an apology for incidents in homes turned tourist accommodation and walk away, Yap said, adding that they must be held responsible and liable for ensuing consequences.

Yap said while the government is doing an excellent job in preventing the spread of the virus, the lack of regulations on residential properties turned commercial tourist accommodation leaves local residents vulnerable to the possibility of infection of the Covid-19 and other transmissible diseases. 

Meanwhile, MAH president Kamaruddin Baharin said the idea of having strangers from all over the world moving in and out of homes every other day without proper standard operating procedures is as risky as operating an international airport. 

“The onus of added maintenance such as cleaning and disinfecting of the properties and its common grounds lies on the joint management bodies, at the cost of every owner and resident, which is unfair. 

“Such home-sharing activities not only puts everyone at risk but also hampers the government’s effort in managing crises,” Kamaruddin added. 

The hotel industry had previously urged the government to regulate and control the home-sharing industry. 

A regulatory framework drawn up with the Malaysian Productivity Corporation last year has yet to be adopted by policymakers and regulators. – February 15, 2020.