KOTA BARU – The Federal Territories Ministry will make it compulsory for every employer to inform on the accommodation for foreign workers it is hiring in order to obtain approval for its development order.
Its minister Tan Sri Annuar Musa said this is to ensure these workers do not live in overcrowded houses, in line with the government’s efforts in curbing the spread of Covid-19 among foreign workers in the Federal Territories.
“We will make this condition mandatory, but it will be implemented in stages as several centralised labour quarters (CLQs) will need to be provided,” he told reporters after launching the Ketereh parliamentary constituency’s People’s Sanitisation Awareness Programme at the Tuan Guru Haji Musa Mosque in Bukit Marak here today.
The CLQ is an accommodation concept for companies in various sectors to provide accommodation with various facilities, such as transportation, for their foreign workers.
Annuar said his ministry had so far identified five locations for CLQs in Kuala Lumpur, including near the Selayang Wholesale Market with an area size of between 0.6 and 1.6ha, and in Precinct 20, Putrajaya, with an area size of 10.1ha, which can accommodate 20,000 to 40,000 people.
He said the ministry will also be enhancing coordination with local authorities and the Human Resource Ministry in determining the number and presence of foreign workers at construction sites.
“The Federal Territories Ministry issues project approval licences while the Human Resource Ministry issues work permits, but sometimes, there is no coordination (between the two) because we do not know who will be coming to work (on any given day), as it is not the responsibility of the Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL).
“Then they (foreign workers) come and are placed at crowded construction sites, and (facilitate) the spread of Covid-19 at construction sites,” he added.
Meanwhile, Annuar urged residents’ associations to raise awareness among residents on the need to adhere to standard operating procedures (SOPs), especially after the government relaxed certain rulings like allowing night markets, salons, and barbershops to operate with the upcoming Chinese New Year celebration.
“The Federal Territories, particularly Kuala Lumpur, must be managed differently due to the many activities it has going on and high population density. So, if Covid-19 spreads, it spreads fast. That is why we call on residents’ associations and joint management committees at each condominium to enforce community-based SOPs,” he said.
Annuar said he has also asked DBKL to assist the Malaysian Armed Forces and police in monitoring SOP compliance in the capital. – Bernama, February 7, 2021
