GEORGE TOWN – The Seberang Perai City Council (MBSP) has yet to receive any proposal from the developer Hunza Land Corporation for a 32-storey workers’ dormitory project in Mukim 12, Juru, which has drawn objections from residents opposed to its proximity to their neighbourhood.
Yesterday, around 200 residents staged a peaceful protest against the proposed project, voicing concerns about public safety, traffic congestion, reduced quality of life, and increased pollution.
The proposed development, comprising 1,440 units spread over 5.6 hectares on Lots 10333, 10334, and 10335 in Mukim 12, Juru, would be built by Hunza Land Corporation, which owns the land. The dormitory would have the capacity to accommodate approximately 20,000 workers.
According to a written response provided by MBSP to Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow, which was made available to the press, the developer is still in the process of preparing the Social Impact Assessment (SIA) report for the project.
“The developer is in the midst of obtaining feedback from residents living around the proposed project site.
“Any objections to the proposed development can be submitted to the consultants conducting the SIA study and to the Town and Country Planning Department (PLANMalaysia), which acts as the secretariat for the SIA report,” the MBSP said.
The protest in Juru marks the second public demonstration by Penang residents against a proposed workers’ dormitory project in their area since last year.
On December 30 last year, nearly 1,000 residents in Teluk Kumbar, Bayan Lepas reportedly protested against the planned construction of two foreign workers’ dormitories in the area, citing concerns about social issues and increased traffic.
According to reports, the dormitories were expected to have a combined capacity of over 30,000 beds, which would double the local population of 15,000.
In January, Chow reportedly stated that the construction of dormitories in the state is essential to house foreign workers, as Penang is becoming a regional manufacturing hub for the electrical and electronic (E&E) sector. The state, home to numerous multinational companies (MNCs), must comply with international labour standards.
PM to launch Penang’s tech centre
Earlier, Chow, who attended the 55th-anniversary celebration of the state-owned development agency Penang Development Corporation (PDC), announced that Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim would launch the Global Business Services (GBS) TechSpace, a 60,000 sq ft building offering rental space for integrated circuit (IC) design firms, digital companies, and research and development (R&D) facilities under the “Penang Silicon Design @5km+” initiative.
Chow, who also serves as PDC chairman, said the agency is in the process of completing the GBS By The Sea project in Bayan Lepas, an office complex that will host semiconductor firms.
The project, which has reached a 98.9% completion rate, is expected to receive its Certificate of Completion and Compliance (CCC) early next month.
Meanwhile, PDC, through its industrial department, is currently in discussions over land offers with several investors at the 164-hectare Batu Kawan Industrial Park 3 (BKIP3), where only investors from “promoted industries” will be allowed to operate.
As for the nearby Bandar Cassia Technology Park (BCPT), PDC’s 11th industrial park, Chow said three MNCs have already commenced construction, and talks on land offers with other firms are ongoing.
“I am confident that these ongoing and completed projects will generate significant revenue for PDC in the long term,” Chow added. – November 18, 2024