SHAH ALAM, Nov 22 — Selangor will introduce a maximum 180-night stay condition on short-term rental services like Airbnb from January, said state executive councillor for local government and tourism Dato’ Ng Suee Lim.
He said this will be decided after the state government studies the short-term stay guidelines Putrajaya is set to release next month.
“Everything is in the planning stage for short-term residential accommodation (STRA) guidelines by the Town and Country Planning Department (PLANMalaysia), where services like Airbnb, we will allow to operate for 180 days a year. If they run beyond 180 days, operators must apply for planning permits.
“But all planning will be subject to policies and drafts by the Housing and Local Government Office (KPKT).
“Implementation will be studied comprehensively and the new guidelines will be approved at the State Executive Council meeting. If an act is needed, only then will it be brought to the assembly sitting,” Ng told Media Selangor.
He said the move aims to control Airbnb operations following complaints from industry players, especially hotel operators, over unhealthy competition as Airbnb operators aren’t tied to any mechanism or law.
“This is because hotels must pay all kinds of fees and such while Airbnb isn’t bound to any law. If they want to operate all year, Airbnb must apply for planning permits from local authorities,” he added.
Ng explained that the decision isn’t meant to burden operators, but instead is the right move in many ways, including in guaranteeing customer safety.
“The state wants to launch a whitelisting (operation) including by registering (operators) with the Tourism, Arts and Culture Ministry (Motac). This will let us control and monitor things, and ensure operators pay the relevant duties,” he said.
Yesterday, in his wind-up speech for the 2026 Selangor Budget at the Selangor State Legislative Assembly sitting, Ng said the administration will impose a fee on all residential accommodations including hotels, homestays and Airbnb units from January.
The sustainability fee aims to cover state maintenance and repair costs, but the amount won’t burden tourists and differ by categories, the councillor said.
“This tax isn’t new and has been introduced in several states. Penang, Melaka, Pahang and Perak were among the earliest to launch this sustainability, or heritage, duty.
“It is time for Selangor to take the same step to ensure all tourists, especially those from abroad, contribute to the state. What’s sure is that the amount won’t be burdensome,” Ng said.
The Dewan Rakyat previously heard that a set of STRA guidelines, developed by the KPKT, will be tabled to the Cabinet for approval before it is brought to the National Council for Local Government (MNKT) for implementation by year end.
