Residents protest against dorms for migrant workers in Teluk Kumbar

Former Umno assemblyman Farid Saad invited the chief minister and state executive council members to stay in the area to experience what the residents would be undergoing.

GEORGE TOWN: Nearly 1,000 people came out to protest against the construction of two migrant workers’ dormitories near Bayan Lepas here.

The dorms at Teluk Kumbar would have a combined capacity of over 30,000 beds, dwarfing the 15,000 population there, the protesting groups have claimed.

Politicians from both sides of the political divide were also present today, saying the project, next to houses in the small fishing town, would cause endless problems for nearby residents.

Former Umno assemblyman Farid Saad said traffic in the already congested township would worsen as factory buses would have to use the tiny roads in the area.

“How are people going to sleep in peace when you have buses revving past at 4.30am? If the government finds it acceptable, then we should insist that the chief minister and exco members stay here to prove their point,” he said.

Farid said the dorms should be built within the industrial zone, asking why the city council approved the project when the local assemblymen and MP had objected to it.

Parti Rakyat Malaysia’s Ravinder Singh said the coastal road connecting Teluk Kumbar with the rest of Penang was bogged down with heavy traffic during peak hours, with motorists needing at least 90 minutes to clear the 11km stretch.

“Why can’t they build this dorm in Seberang Perai and take the bridge to the island instead? The bridge trip is only 30 minutes.”

Some of the residents bearing signs protesting against the dorms.

Idiris Saleh, a former vice-chancellor of Universiti Sains Malaysia, said the flood of migrant workers would not help boost the economy.

“There would be billions of ringgit in outflows from remittances. They are going to ruin our economy,” he said.

A resident, who wanted to be known as Marzitah, claimed women were being harassed by migrant workers already housed in the area with catcalls and obscenities hurled at them.

“Some are afraid to even walk to the mosque for Subuh prayers because the men will be out there waiting for their buses,” she said.

Penang Assembly Deputy Speaker Azrul Mahathir Aziz, who is also the Pakatan Harapan assemblyman for Bayan Lepas, said he had strenuously objected to the project in 2020.

FMT has reached out to the mayor’s office and chief minister for comment.