Hotels well aware of RM150 quarantine room rate subsidy, says MAH

KUALA LUMPUR (April 8): The Malaysian Association of Hotels (MAH) has clarified that its member hotels taking part in the COVID-19 quarantine initiative are well aware of and have agreed to the government’s RM150 room rate subsidy for lending their spaces out to be used as quarantine centres. A quarantine stay comes complete with three meals daily, it added.

The clarification was in response to an article stating that MAH was not aware of the RM150 subsidy for the quarantine stay published recently.

In a statement yesterday, MAH CEO Yap Lip Seng said MAH has been in discussion with the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture (MOTAC) from day one and had been kept well informed on the government’s intentions. “Hotels participating as quarantine centres have agreed to the rate partially as CSR serving the government’s needs,” he added.

On complaints and concerns by the general public residing close to the hotel-turned quarantine centres, Yap explained that these hotels are supervised by the Ministry of Health (MOH) and the National Disaster Management Agency (NADMA).

He stressed that those placed under quarantine are not patients. “Under the mandatory quarantine, they are to remain in the hotel room for 14 days, with no one going in or out of the rooms,” he noted, adding that quarantine centres are under close surveillance before, during and immediately after the quarantine period.

Yap pointed out that hotels are suitable alternatives as they have support systems and standard operating procedures in place. “These are in addition to the ability to provide a more comfortable and equipped quarantine stay for Malaysians returning home,” he added.

Stay calm. Stay at home. Keep updated on the latest news at www.EdgeProp.my #stayathome #flattenthecurve