Kota Baru (Malaysia), May 9 : The Kelantan State Government in Malaysia plans to extend its home stay programme to the Indian community, especially those working in estates, to enable them to earn additional income.

State Economic Planning, Finance and Welfare Committee chairman Husam Musa said that suitable areas had been identified for the purpose.

"We will provide them with the houses and they can rent out parts of the units to visitors and tourists," he said.

"Apart from getting another source of income, the villagers can also help promote their areas (to tourists)," The NST Online quoted Musa, as saying.

Husam, who is an assemblyman from Salor, said that the proposed project for the Indian community was expected to start soon.

Under the Pantai Mek Mas homestay project, which is handled by a local-based company, three wooden houses have been built.

The villagers who operate them will get to keep half of whatever the tourists pay to stay at the houses.