KUALA LUMPUR: Tourism, Arts, and Culture (Motac) minister Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing has called on the Sabah state government and authorities to take action regarding the recent hidden camera incident as alleged by foreign tourists.
Tiong emphasised that Motac would not compromise in any way on such incidents, and would continue to monitor all accommodation providers.
"Motac emphasises that the safety and privacy of tourists, both local and foreign, are of utmost importance. Actions taken by homestay operators or Airbnb hosts that jeopardise the safety and privacy of guests are unacceptable.
"We will ensure that the necessary legal actions are taken against those responsible for such misconduct, including revoking licences and imposing severe penalties," he said in a statement today.
Tiong also advised all homestay operators registered under Airbnb to raise awareness and pay serious attention to the discipline of their employees, as well as to conduct background checks.
"It is undeniable that such incidents may be caused by the personal actions of irresponsible homestay or Airbnb staff members.
"Motac will seek to enhance security and accountability measures to prevent such incidents from happening in the future," he said.
Tiong strongly condemned the despicable act of hiding cameras, stating that it not only violates the law but also affects the image of the country's tourism industry.
He was commenting on the recent incident where a Chinese couple's romantic honeymoon quickly turned to horror after finding a hidden camera within a power socket at their Airbnb, positioned towards their bed.
The experience was then shared by the pair on XiaoHongShu after returning to China, questioning if Malaysia is a safe destination for travellers.