Govt warns of closure after Penang riot at workers' hostel

New Straits Times

22-06-2025

BUKIT MERTAJAM: The government will not hesitate to shut down any Centralised Labour Quarters (CLQ) or Temporary Labour Quarters (TLQ) found to violate regulations or mismanaged in any way involving foreign workers.
This follows the recent riot involving foreign workers at The Summit building here, which led to the arrest of 46 people.
Human Resources Minister Steven Sim Chee Keong said the government had no qualms about taking stern action.
"Companies must be responsible for the welfare and discipline of their workers.
"If they fail, we will not only revoke the CLQ or TLQ licence, we may also withdraw the company's foreign worker permits," he told newsmen after conducting checks at The Summit this afternoon.
On the riot, Sim said the matter was now in the hands of the police.
He said the incident occurred because the workers were allegedly dissatisfied with their supervisor.
Preliminary reports suggested the unrest stemmed from allegations of money being collected for unclear purposes, possibly without the knowledge of the company managing the workers.
Over 1,100 foreign workers are housed in the TLQ at The Summit, with the majority of them are from Bangladesh (946), followed by Nepal (129) and Myanmar (38).
Eight companies have employees staying at the facility, but the riot is believed to have primarily involved workers from just one company.
Sim said the TLQ at The Summit was approved by the Seberang Prai City Council in 2023, with the permit valid until Dec 31, 2027.
"The operator of the facility must comply with the Workers' Minimum Standards of Housing and Amenities Act 1990, and obtain certification from the Department of Labour.
"We support the CLQ and TLQ concept because it keeps foreign workers' accommodations organised and prevents disruption to local communities.
"But if the operator fails to maintain peace and order, we will instruct the local council and the Department of Labour to revoke the licence.
"Although the riot at The Summit was not targeted at the general public, video footage of the incident caused fear among local residents," he added.
Sim stressed the government's commitment to balancing industrial needs with public safety.
"Companies must be responsible for the welfare and discipline of their workers.
"Failing that, we will take stern action, including withdrawing their foreign worker permits," he warned.
Meanwhile, the operator of the TLQ at The Summit, Chew Suen Chee, said various measures had been implemented to ensure the safety and wellbeing of the foreign workers.
"We took immediate action after the incident and will cooperate fully with the police in their investigation," he said, apologising for the incident.