GEORGE TOWN – Backbenchers in the Penang assembly have questioned the manner in which hostels for migrant workers are being planned, saying that they are too close to residential areas inhabited by locals and bring about social issues in the affected neighbourhoods.
Zolkifli Md Lazim (Teluk Bahang-PAS) said that although there are many commendable development projects, locals are complaining that the migrants’ hostels, especially in Teluk Kumbar and other places, are located in close proximity to existing residential areas.
“I think we should go back to how it used to be, where teachers stay close to schools and police stay near police quarters.
“Those foreigners working for industries should be living close to the industrial areas and not close to where the locals are staying,” he said at the state assembly sitting here today. “Having them live so close to locals will disrupt the social system.”
Opposition leader Datuk Muhamad Yusoff Mohd Noor (Sg Dua-Umno) agreed with Zolkifli.
He sought evidence from state housing and local government exco Jagdeep Singh Deo on his assertion that there have been zero social repercussions from the migrant workers’ hostels that are close to residential areas.
He stressed that it has changed and will change the structure of how people live around the area with an increase in crime rates.
Azrul Mahathir Aziz (Bayan Lepas-PKR) suggested that the Penang Development Corporation swap the land in Teluk Kumbar with that in Batu Kawan so that the migrant workers’ lodgings can be moved to Batu Kawan, closer to the industrial estate there.
“The biggest issue is the sharing of facilities, and with the increase of foreign workers in Teluk Kumbar, it really feels like the locals are the minority.
“If this is not addressed, the foreigners will become part-time fishermen and traders in pasar malams, taking over from the locals in Teluk Kumbar,” he said.
Just before Zolkifli presented his points, Satees Muniandy (Bagan Dalam-DAP), highlighted the increase in social issues, especially drug-related cases in the state.
“Right now, there are youngsters that are given an RM6,000 motorcycle to be drug traffickers, but they are just pawns used by those who are leading these drug syndicates.
“They have even advanced with the times, and now do business using cryptocurrency and bitcoin. Even the exco and police cannot trace this,” he said.
Satees said that after doing rounds within his constituency, he found that 80% of the homeless tested positive for drugs.
He also cited the case of a drug trafficker who continued his business two to three years after being released from jail. – The Vibes, May 31, 2022
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