Penang CM denies planned workers’ village a ‘detention camp’

GEORGE TOWN, May 18 ― A proposed workers’ village in Juru is aimed to provide housing for all workers, including Malaysians, Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng said today, rubbishing claims its real purpose was as a “detention camp” for foreigners.

He added that the project was meant to address lodging issues faced by all workers as well as to curb social problems that frequently occur among foreign workers.

“Don't imagine it as a detention camp that is congested and rife with crime because it is not. It is a modern international standard mixed development project,” he said.

The Air Putih assemblyman said both local and foreign workers were currently put up in low-cost flat meant to provide housing for low-income families.

He added that the creation of a modernised dormitory complete with infrastructure as practised in Singapore will provide a future model to be replicated elsewhere.

Lim said the state acknowledged the protests by the residents there against the project.

"I feel we need to explain to the residents on the details of the project because they have the impression that it is a detention camp which is not true at all," he said.

However, he added that the state is always open to feedback and to have discussions with the residents regarding the projects.

Recently, about 300 residents in Perkampungan Juru held a peaceful demonstration against the project.

The developer of the project was originally supposed to build 12,000 beds with extensive recreation facilities and amenities meant for community living on 12.6 acres of land, which has since been halved.

Earlier, Lim was asked by Cheah Kah Peng (PKR - Kebun Bunga) for details on the proposal by Magnificent Emblem's director Phang Li Koon to build workers villages on two pieces of land owned by Penang Development Corporation.

Lim said Magnificent Emblem failed to win the project through the open tender exercise held for the piece of land in Juru.

The tender was won by Westlife Dormitory (Penang-Juru) Sdn Bhd that had offered the highest price.

In a later reply to Cheah’s oral question, Lim said Westlife offered more than RM20 million for the project on the 12.6-acre parcel of land.

“I'm not sure of the exact figures but now that we've halved the size of the land, the price will be adjusted,” he said.

Lim disclosed that land for the workers’ village has now been halved to 6.3 acres following objections from residents, and added that the state is planning to build affordable housing on the other half.