After migrant protest, Human Resources Ministry warns of licence revocation for non-compliant worker hostels
Human Resources Minister Steven Sim said the warning followed a commotion involving a group of foreign workers at a TLQ operating in a hotel here on Friday, which caused unease among local residents.
He said Act 446 stipulated the provision of suitable housing and basic amenities for foreign workers, but that employers must also prioritise workers' welfare, safety, and discipline to avoid negative impacts on the surrounding community.
'CLQs and TLQs are meant to centralise the accommodation of foreign workers so that it doesn't affect local neighbourhoods. So it's very important to have this system. I have discussed this matter with the operators of such facilities.
'I've also issued a reminder to ensure that workers' welfare is safeguarded and that their presence does not disturb the community. If they fail, I will not hesitate to instruct the Labour Department (JTK) and local authorities (PBT) to revoke their licences,' he said at a press conference here today.
Also present were Penang Local Government and Town and Country Planning Committee chairman H'ng Mooi Lye and Penang Labour Department deputy director A. Thanavalli.
Sim said the foreign worker permits of the companies involved could also be cancelled, stressing that such actions were not meant to be punitive against industries or employers, but to ensure they understood the consequences of failing to manage their workers responsibly.
He added that the hotel in Bukit Mertajam had been approved by the Seberang Perai City Council (MBSP) to operate as a TLQ until 2027, and had also obtained certification from the Labour Department.
A total of 1,113 migrant workers were housed at the TLQ — comprising 946 from Bangladesh, 129 from Nepal and 38 from Myanmar.
Sim said the incident last Friday night occurred when a group of migrant workers gathered outside the premises to protest against a TLQ supervisor who had allegedly collected money from them for certain purposes without the company's knowledge.
He said the case was being investigated by the police, and JTK was also conducting checks to ensure compliance with Act 446.
Earlier, the media reported that police arrested 46 foreign men following the disturbance outside the hotel used as a workers' hostel. — Bernama
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Malay Mail
20 minutes ago
- Malay Mail
Court of Appeal grants Tommy Thomas' bid to recuse High Court judge in Shahrir's malicious prosecution suit
PUTRAJAYA, July 4 — The Court of Appeal today allowed the appeal by former attorney-general (AG) Tan Sri Tommy Thomas to recuse a High Court judge from presiding over Tan Sri Shahrir Abdul Samad's malicious prosecution suit against him. A three-member bench comprising Justices Datuk Supang Lian, Datuk Faizah Jamaludin and Datuk Ahmad Fairuz Zainol Abidin set aside the High Court's decision. In January, the High Court judge, Roz Mawar Rozain, dismissed Thomas's application to recuse her from hearing the case. In today's proceeding, Justice Faizah, who delivered the court's unanimous decision, said there was a real danger of bias on the part of the High Court judge if she continues to hear the case, although it may be unintentional. 'The learned High Court judge is to be recused from hearing all future proceedings and the trial in the civil suit,' she said. Justice Faizah said the High Court judge's findings and observations during her ruling on Thomas's striking-out application revealed her views on the merits of Shahril's case against Thomas. 'As an informed and fair-minded bystander, given the facts and circumstances of the case, we perceive that these findings and observations do give rise to a risk of real danger of bias by the learned judge,' she said. The court ordered a legal cost of RM30,000 to be awarded to Thomas for proceedings in the High Court and the Court of Appeal. In July last year, Roz Mawar rejected Thomas' application to strike out Shahrir's lawsuit and ordered the case to go for a full hearing. Shahrir had filed the suit against Thomas, former Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) chief commissioner Latheefa Koya, the MACC and the Malaysian Government. The former Johor Bahru Member of Parliament's lawsuit concerns a RM1 million cheque he received from former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak for restoration work on the Puri Langkasuka housing project in Larkin, Johor. Thomas, who served as AG from June 2018 to February 2020, refuted Shahrir's allegations of abuse of power, describing them as 'unsustainable'. Thomas further explained that he resigned on February 28, 2020, and that Shahrir's criminal trial for the charges began on July 26, 2022. On January 5, 2023, High Court Judge Datuk Muhammad Jamil Hussin acquitted Shahrir on the charge of failing to declare the RM1 million income received from Najib to the Inland Revenue Board. — Bernama
Malay Mail
38 minutes ago
- Malay Mail
Hotel worker pleads guilty to brutal rape, unnatural sex of Australian in Penang
GEORGE TOWN, July 4 — A part-time hotel worker pleaded guilty in the Sessions Court here today to charges of raping and committing unnatural sex on an Australian woman. S. Prasanth, 25, who made the plea before Judge Juraidah Abbas, requested time to appoint a lawyer to represent him. He is charged with raping the Australian woman in a Perodua Axia car and putting the victim in fear by pointing a metal scissors at her at a cemetery in the Mount Erskine Estate here, between 5.20am and 6am last June 28. The charge, under Section 376 (2) (b) of the Penal Code, provides imprisonment of up to 30 years and whipping upon conviction. He is also charged with committing unnatural sex on the woman at the same time and location, and was charged under Section 377C of the Penal Code, which carries a prison sentence of between five and 20 years and whipping upon conviction. The prosecution, conducted by Penang Prosecution Director Mohd Nordin Ismail and Deputy Public Prosecutor Lee Jun Keong, did not offer any bail due to the seriousness of the offence and the sensitivity surrounding the good bilateral relations between Malaysia and Australia, as the victim is an Australian citizen. 'We do not want this matter to give a bad impression to foreign tourists who come to Malaysia. We cannot tolerate such offences,' said Mohd Nordin. The court did not allow bail and set July 31 for mention for the submission of documents and appointment of a counsel. — Bernama
Free Malaysia Today
41 minutes ago
- Free Malaysia Today
I thought of giving up politics when I was charged, says Syed Saddiq
Former Muda president Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman said he could have accepted a scholarship from Oxford University in 2017 before he joined politics and won the Muar seat a year later. PETALING JAYA : Muar MP Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman has admitted that he considered quitting politics after he was charged with corruption and money laundering. The former youth and sports minister, however, said he ultimately decided against doing so and wanted to clear his name in the courts instead. 'I'd be lying if I said I never thought about it,' he said in an interview with Sinar Harian today. 'But I always reminded myself why I joined politics – to serve the country, protect the rights of Malaysians, and help Malaysia progress.' Syed Saddiq also said he could have taken a step back from politics when he was offered two scholarships by Oxford University in 2017, especially since he was not yet an MP and there had been no change of government. 'But I thought to myself that the country must always come first,' he said. Syed Saddiq was convicted by the Kuala Lumpur High Court of abetting in criminal breach of trust (CBT), misappropriation of assets, and money laundering in November 2023. On Wednesday, the Court of Appeal acquitted him of all charges involving over RM1 million belonging to Bersatu Youth and another RM120,000 related to dishonest misappropriation. Justice Noorin Badaruddin said the defence should not have been called during the trial, as the prosecution failed to prove the charges of abetting in CBT and dishonest misappropriation. On Muda's political direction, especially when it came to forging electoral pacts, Syed Saddiq, who stepped down temporarily as party president following his conviction, said it was 'uncertain'. 'Malaysia's political scene changes quickly. Today, we're allies, tomorrow we're not,' he said, adding that the party will decide on its approach closer to the next general election. He also urged young people not to fear intimidation or reports of bribery in politics. 'I hope my victory gives young people the courage to know that if they are on the right side of the law, they should not be afraid to stand firm,' he said.
