Education Minister Maszlee Malik's suggestion for hotels to open up their pools for swimming lessons for school children is not a good idea, says the Malaysian Association of Hotels (MAH).

According to The Star, MAH head Yap Lip Seng said that there were safety concerns because most hotel pools were meant for leisure purposes.

"Which means they are not built with the needed size, shape, depth and design for swimming lessons, especially not for groups of children.

"While there are hotels that are currently already providing their facilities for selected school activities on an ad hoc basis as part of their corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives, most hotel swimming pools are not designed for swimming lessons, especially for children," Yap said.

The Education Ministry has been mulling the possibility of introducing swimming classes in view of the rising number of drownings involving students.

Yesterday, Maszlee said his ministry would talk to hotels to lend their pools to schools to facilitate such classes as part of their corporate social responsibility programmes.

Yap said there were also "accessibility concerns" as hotel facilities are paid for by tourists and hence dedicated for their exclusive use.

"From a tourism point of view, it could pose a negative impression on tourists," he said.

The MAH was of the view that the minister's initiative was a good one, Yap said, but that it should not just involve hotels.

"We do hope the ministry will study the idea carefully with practicability and safety of schoolchildren as a priority."