Biggest foreign workers’ dorm may be built in Penang

GEORGE TOWN: Plans are afoot to build a dormitory with 35,000 beds – touted as the largest in the country – in Penang.

Penang local government committee chairman Jagdeep Singh Deo said the state’s Planning Committee (Technical) will study an application for the project in Teluk Kumbar in the southern end of Penang island in its next meeting.

“We received the latest proposal on Tuesday to build the largest foreign workers’ dormitory in Penang, or even Malaysia.

“The dormitory may be built on 4ha of land. It will have 2,100 rooms with 35,000 beds, ” he said, adding that this worked out to an average of 16 beds per room.

“The applicant had earlier proposed other components besides the workers’ quarters, but the latest proposal was to start on the dormitory project, ” Jagdeep said, adding that Penang currently has two foreign workers’ dormitories in operation – in Bukit Minyak on the mainland and Batu Maung on the island.

The dorm in Bukit Minyak reportedly holds 6,600 beds and the one in Batu Maung has up to 8,500 beds.

“One major issue is the proper housing of foreign workers, which help sustain the economy. These workers need to have a place to stay and we can see that they are now living in various housing schemes among locals, ” said Jagdeep.