Budget hotels not cause of vice, says Selangor exco

By Lisa J. Ariffin

March 26, 2012

SHAH ALAM, March 26 — Budget hotels do not cause vice activities, Selangor executive councillor Ronnie Liu said today.

The Pandamaran assemblyman made this statement today in light of the “mushrooming” of budget hotels in the state, which have been described by Semenyih representative Datuk Johan Abdul Aziz as “suspicious in need and approval”.

“Human weakness is the cause of vice activities. It (vice) does not stem from budget hotels,” Liu(picture) told The Malaysian Insideroutside the Selangor State Assembly here.

“Even houses can be converted into dens for vice activities,” he said.

Liu explained that the increase in budget hotels “is the trend in many states, not only in Selangor”.

“There is a big demand for affordable hotels. Not everyone can afford to stay at a five-star hotel,” he said.

“Small towns do not need big hotels, they only need budget hotels. Previously, these hotels were known as guest houses,” he added.

Liu acknowledged that the surge in budget hotels is raising eyebrows, but said the authorities are laying down ground rules to ensure they don’t end up as a catalyst for social ills.

“We will leave it to the local city councils to take action (against unlicensed operators),” he said.

“I have seen the guidelines myself, they are very strict.”