Penang govt to consider residents' feedback over CLQ development in Bertam

KEPALA BATAS, June 9 (Bernama) -- The Penang state government will consider all views and feedback from residents about the proposed construction of the Centralised Labour Quarters (CLQ) in  Bertam here.

Penang deputy chief minister I Datuk Ahmad Zakiyuddin Abdul Rahman said the matter was one of the government’s approaches in delivering information of developing a project in the state.

"As Pinang Tunggal assemblyman, the area involved in the CLQ project, I held this town hall session or engagement with resident representatives in the area involved to listen to views, objections and their intentions (regarding the project).

"All their feedback provided in tonight’s session will be gathered for submission to the state government so that they can be evaluated and detailed...we (the state government) is always ready to listen and evaluate.

"The state government has actually established a special committee that I chair to monitor and coordinate the implementation of the project as we want to get initial suggestions from all parties about the large-scale project,” he said during the High-Technology Industrial Area Development Town Hall session, which also involved the CLQ project, yesterday.

Zakiyuddin said the 339-hectare High-Technology Industrial Area located at Jalan Tun Hamdan Sheikh Tahir, Bertam in the Kepala Batas parliamentary constituency will provide job opportunities to residents there.

The CLQ project caused concerns among residents as it might signal an influx of foreign workers who would impact the harmony of those living there.

"I would like to state any decision of action of mine to tackle this issue is not based on politics but done in the interest of the people and state and the development of Bertam. Town hall sessions like this will be continued in the future,” he said.

Housing and Local Government Minister Datuk Seri Reezal Merican Naina Merican, who is also Kepala Batas MP, had earlier asked the city council and developers to conduct an engagement session with residents to find solutions for the proposed CLQ development as most residents are concerned with the prospect of a flood of foreign workers in the area.

Residents of 10 housing estates near the project had conducted peaceful protests to reject the proposed construction and sought to have it moved to the nearby area of Ara Kuda, Tasek Gelugor.

-- BERNAMA