Actor George Clooney and pop legend Elton John have called for boycotting nine Brunei-owned hotels in the wake of the country's decision to enforce harsh penal codes on gay sex and adultery.

The new laws include death by stoning for adultery and homosexuality, as well as amputation of hands and feet for theft.

"Every single time we stay at or take meetings at or dine at any of these nine hotels, we are putting money directly into the pockets of men who choose to stone and whip to death their own citizens for being gay or accused of adultery,” Clooney said.

"I commend my friend, George Clooney, for taking a stand against the anti-gay discrimination and bigotry taking place in the nation of Brunei - a place where gay people are brutalized, or worse - by boycotting the Sultan's hotels," Elton John wrote on his Twitter page.

John said his "heart went out" to staff at the hotels, but that "we must send a message, however we can, that such treatment is unacceptable."

The Brunei-owned hotels are located in the United States (including Beverly Hills Hotel in Los Angeles), Britain (London's Dorchester), France and Italy.