Dozens of people have complained online about a two-star hostel in Kuala Lumpur that allegedly discriminates guests based on race.
Accusations directed at the Reggae Mansion accommodation in the Masjid Jamek area includes blocking guests of certain races from booking its rooms online or entering its premises. The hostel did not immediately respond to Coconuts KL’s email request for comment.
Among the first to call out the hostel online in the past few days was Twitter user Munira Mustaffa who said on Saturday: “Is Reggae Mansion in Kuala Lumpur still racist?”
This was retweeted by a man named Iqbal who noted that the backpacker hostel had allegedly refused entry to African and Asian guests, including local citizens.
“In case you haven’t heard, there’s a hostel in the Masjid Jamek (Jamek Mosque) area that doesn’t allow Asians and African guests, including Malaysians!” he said, including in his tweet screenshots of bad reviews previously posted online, dating back to 2014.
“Honestly surprised that this business has managed to last this long without Malaysians tearing the shit out them,” Iqbal added. His tweet was shared by nearly 3,000 others on the same platform.
In case korang tak pernah dengar, ada satu hostel ni kat area2 Masjid Jamek yg tak kasi org Asia/Africa stay tempat diorg, TERMASUK ORG MALAYSIA SENDIRI.
Honestly surprised that this business has managed to last this long without Malaysians tearing the shit out them. https://t.co/QZ05Vd6EvL pic.twitter.com/M66dUmbUOl
— Iqbal (@Iqtodabal) June 13, 2020
Malaysian Benjamin Chong also joined in the online conversation, recounting a time in 2013 when he was initially denied entry to the hostel’s bar but was allowed in the next day after he said he was Singaporean.
“I was not allowed into their premises because I am a Malaysian,” Chong’s tweet read. “Was showing some tourist friends around the city and came back to get some drinks at the bar but was stopped. Next day, I tried again and only got in because I said I was a Singaporean.”
Similar accusations surfaced on Twitter back in November 2011. At the time, the hostel had defended itself for banning guests from Malaysia, India, and the Middle East due to religious reasons as it served alcoholic drinks. It then reversed its policy to welcome guests of all races again. Between 2014 and 2017, online complaints resurfaced.
The hostel’s TripAdvisor profile also currently states that it “does not accept online bookings from Malaysia, India, and Middle East countries” and that it does not welcome guests older than 60.
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