GEORGE TOWN, November 20 — Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow has reaffirmed that all foreign worker dormitory projects in the state must adhere to strict guidelines, including social impact and traffic assessments, before approval by local authorities. He emphasized that these guidelines ensure that the potential effects on surrounding communities are carefully considered.
Chow highlighted that while there have been proposals to house foreign workers within factory grounds, such an arrangement is not feasible in Penang, known as the “Silicon Valley of the East.” The state government believes that workers should not be confined to factory premises 24/7, and thus allows workers’ quarters (CLQs) to be located in other residential areas with adequate amenities, such as shops and laundromats, to ensure quality living conditions. Currently, between five to six CLQs have been approved, with some already operational, providing housing for thousands of workers.
Regarding the ongoing protests in Taman Cendana, Juru, over a proposed 32-storey workers’ dormitory, Chow noted that the developer is conducting both a social impact assessment (SIA) and a traffic impact assessment (TIA). These studies will assess the concerns raised by local residents, particularly related to safety and traffic congestion, before the project’s planning approval is considered. The proposed dormitory would house up to 20,000 workers across 1,440 units on a 5.6-hectare site.
