GEORGE TOWN: The foreign workers' dormitory project in Teluk Kumbar, which locals have objected to has a capacity of more than 7,000 workers.
Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow said, to date, the state government has not received any application from any developer for a foreign workers' dormitory with a capacity of 22,000 workers.
He said the confusion that arose among the locals regarding the two projects was likely because they could not distinguish the information obtained.
"There is one project that is actually the target of the protest.
The project that they are demanding (objecting) with a capacity of over 22,000 foreign workers has not even been applied for.
"What has been approved is a capacity of over 7,000 workers in Teluk Kumbar," he told newsmen after attending the annual gathering of civil servants here today.
More than 1,000 local residents in Teluk Kumbar held a peaceful demonstration to protest and urge the Penang government to immediately cancel the construction of the foreign workers' dormitory, which is said to be able to accommodate more than 30,000 foreign workers in the area.
The chairman of the Action Committee to Protest the Construction of Foreign Workers' Dormitory in Teluk Kumbar, Professor Dr Muhamad Idiris Saleh said that almost the entire local population in Teluk Kumbar objected to the construction of the foreign workers' dormitory for fear of future problems.
Elaborating, Chow said he would be meeting with representatives from the action committee to discuss the issue.
"Apart from this meeting, I also asked the Penang Island City Council (MBPP) to give a briefing on this project to Datuk Azrul Mahathir Aziz (Bayan Lepas assemblyman) and the action committee.
"Yesterday, I also met a representative of Barisan Nasional (BN) Balik Pulau and I explained this project," he added.
Chow said Penang is an industrialised state with many factories.
He said, previously, the state government did not have any plans regarding the construction of foreign workers' dormitories.
"Foreign workers are scattered everywhere, in housing estates and others, so we have many complaints and issues to deal with.
"So, with the dormitories, it is a better alternative in terms of accommodation and facilities in order to comply with international standards.
"Nevertheless, we understand that wherever it is built, there are concerns by the people," he said.
At the gathering today, Penang State Secretary Datuk Rosli Isa said there was no corruption-related case involving civil servants in the state during the past year.
He said it was a good achievement for the state government and civil servants.
"Based on records, there are no cases of corruption related to the state government or civil servants who have been subjected to disciplinary action.
"There have been accusations in the past, and I advise everyone that we are in close contact with the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC). We have to make sure that we work sincerely and that there are no irregularities," he said.
According to Rosli, civil servants need to look after the image of the state government and that is the responsibility they have to carry out as trustees.