Chow (second left) and Wong flanking an artist impression of the workers village after the signing ceremony. — LIM BENG TATT/The Star
Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow is confident the RM108mil foreign workers housing project between MY EG Lodging Sdn Bhd and Penang Development Corporation (PDC) can help address challenges faced in the industry.
“The quarters will resolve issues such as foreign workers being placed in existing residential areas, influx of illegal foreign workers, and the drop in property prices due to certain areas being used as foreign workers’ housing,” he said after witnessing the signing of the 30-year lease agreement to build a workers village in Batu Kawan Industrial Park 3.
The lease covers an area of 3.39ha and is valued at RM20.4mil.
Chow said PDC had called for a request for proposal for the project last year and My EG Lodging was selected from three received.
The workers village, consisting of eight blocks of five-storey accommodation with 445 hostels, is expected to house about 8,000 workers.
MY EG Lodging Sdn Bhd will build and operate the workers village and related facilities at its own cost.
Meanwhile, PDC chief executive officer Datuk Aziz Bakar said Phase I of the project was scheduled for completion in 2026 and would accommodate about 4,000 workers.
He said Phase II was expected to be completed in 2029.
“This is part of four foreign workers’ housing projects which will be able to house 25,000 workers in total.
“The locations will not cause any issue as it is close to the industrial park,” he said after the signing ceremony held in George Town.
MY EG Lodging director Datuk Mohd Jimmy Wong Abdullah who signed the lease agreement with Aziz, said they would offer other services such as application for work permits, provision of fully equipped facilities and amenities for the foreign workers including sundry stores and recreational areas.
He said the facilities would be in accordance with International Labour Organisation standards.
