Sorry, Malaysians are not welcome

I'M sorry, we can't accept your booking because, err..., you're local.

That would not be an answer I'd expect when I call to reserve rooms at hotels or backpackers' hostels.

"No vacancy" or "building under construction" are acceptable reasons for refusing bookings, but not just because you are of a certain nationality.

I can even accept if the person answering the call tells me that there was a fire or the building was going to be torn down, although I'd still find such excuses suspicious.

Luckily, I've not been turned away from any hotel and I don't think I'd be pleased if I had.

As long as the potential guest has not done anything against the law, has proper travel documents or personal identification card, there's no reason to stop them from staying in any licensed premises which provides paid lodging.

Streets had carried stories of some hostels' staff telling those who want to make reservations for rooms that they do not accept bookings from locals.

KL Mayor Tan Sri Ahmad Fuad Ismail took the complaints of the "no-locals" policy implemented by some hostels very seriously and went to meet one of the operators recently.

It is hoped that the visit and the stern warning would be an eye-opener to the other operators and they would heed the call and open their doors to anyone who is "willing to pay for their stay".

The operator was reported to have said that the reason they had to vet their guests was because the locals had problems with the behaviour of foreign tourists.

What was really going on? It's mind-boggling for me, really. What was it that could have ticked off Malaysians -- who are well-known for their hospitality -- so much?

Hospitality that we are so proud of, which also explains the reason we have many homestays in villages and rural areas that welcome both locals and foreigners.

Have you ever heard of the locals having problems with their foreign guests? You tell me.

What about denying guests from particular countries? Some hostels don't accept tourists from India and the Middle East.

Do these hostels have problems with other guests? City Hall can act based on the licensing requirements and guidelines, but the Tourism Ministry also needs to make sure that these premises do not give the wrong impression to tourists because of their policies as hotels and hostels usually have affiliations with travel agencies, which come under the purview of the ministry.

One of the reasons given by one hostel operator was that they turned away locals to maintain their international ranking.

That reason is also questionable. I've always believed that excellent lodging premises should give good (and equal) treatment to all guests, be it locals or foreigners, as deemed fair by the payment made, which I assume, is part of the assessment of good service.

Like others, I have respect for the staff working in the hospitality line who carry out their duties professionally and I wouldn't want that to change just because of some policy imposed by operators.

nst.com.