Apartment residents sleepless over workers' ‘dorms’ in their midst

Residents protesting the practice of affordable housing units in Paya Terubong, Penang, being rented out and turned into worker dormitories. — Photos: KT GOH/The Star

SEVERAL families are distressed over factory workers living in their affordable apartment scheme in Paya Terubong, Penang.

A representative of the residents, Kevin Loh, said after the residents moved in earlier this year, they found out that some 40 units there were housing factory workers.

“We noticed double-decker beds and multiple mattresses in these units occupied by the factory workers who are picked up by bus in the wee hours of the morning.

“We are unsure if they are foreigners or locals, but they live in affordable units which are not to be rented out to others and must be occupied by the owners.

“These two blocks here are 70% affordable housing, while 30% are open units,” he said when met at the apartment building along Tingkat Paya Terubong 5.

Loh, 39, a hotel front desk supervisor who moved into his unit in April this year, said the residents feared for their safety.

“We are also worried that more units may be transformed into dormitories for workers.

Loh showing double-decker beds and multiple mattresses moved into the units occupied by the factory workers.

“Overcrowding can lead to other issues such as damage to facilities.

“The units have multiple beds and seven workers or more seem to be living in each unit.

“They seem to be avoiding us but we know they live there,” he said.

Loh said some residents had received messages from agents asking if they wanted to rent out their units to factory workers too.

“They usually say it is meant for locals but this is still not allowed under the affordable housing regulations.

Chooi says it should have been made clear to potential buyers that these units cannot be rented out.

“As stated in the paperwork, any offer for a unit can be withdrawn without compensation if it is rented out or occupied by others.

“We have all signed declarations that we will live in the units we were offered,” he said.

Loh said the residents had complained to state executive councillors and the housing department in the past few months but to no avail.

“The property management reached out to the state housing department as well and received a notice stating that this issue was under the Commissioner of Buildings (COB) but when we approached COB, they said it was under the housing department,” he said.

The affordable housing project comprising two blocks has 1,000 units priced from RM300,000 to over RM400,000.

Paya Terubong MCA constituency coordinator Chooi Foo Cheong, who called for a press conference on the issue, hoped any confusion on the rules would be swiftly addressed.

“It should have been made clear in the beginning that buyers are not allowed to rent their units to others,” he added.

Penang housing committee chairman Jagdeep Singh Deo, who is in England on a work trip, said he would respond to the issue upon his return.