Penang is taking a significant step toward sustainable development and improved labour conditions with the launch of a centralised worker dormitory project at Penang Science Park South. This initiative, spearheaded by the state government, aims to provide a well-structured and modern living environment for the workforce while addressing social concerns in nearby residential areas.
Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow highlighted the project’s alignment with the Employees’ Minimum Standards of Housing, Accommodations, and Amenities Act 1990 (Act 446). He emphasized that purpose-built dormitories not only ensure workers’ welfare but also mitigate challenges such as property devaluation, unregistered foreign workers, and associated social and environmental issues.
“Centralised worker dormitories are a critical investment in Penang’s industrial future. By housing workers in dedicated facilities away from residential zones, we enhance both their safety and the well-being of local communities,” Chow said at the project’s groundbreaking ceremony.
The RM300 million development, undertaken by Urban Pinnacle Sdn Bhd in partnership with the Penang Development Corporation (PDC), will be built in phases. The first phase, set to be operational within two years, features two 20-storey hostel blocks with 836 apartment units, each measuring 1,100 square feet, capable of housing 8,000 workers.
Beyond basic accommodations, the dormitory complex will offer a holistic living environment with supermarkets, food courts, clinics, gyms, multipurpose halls, sports centres, cinemas, and recreational areas. Chow also noted that these facilities would streamline enforcement efforts, ensuring compliance with safety and regulatory standards.
This initiative aligns with Penang’s Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) commitments and reinforces the state’s position as a key industrial player, having secured RM32 billion in investments last year.
Further strengthening this vision, PDC CEO Datuk Aziz Bakar announced additional dormitory projects planned for Batu Kawan Industrial Park (BKIP) 3 and Batu Kawan. Lien Dak Group executive chairman Stephen Wong also expressed appreciation for the state’s support, emphasizing the project’s role in enhancing Penang’s industrial competitiveness.
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