GEORGE TOWN: One of two companies planning to construct foreign workers' dormitories in Teluk Kumbar has retracted its planning permission application.
State Local Government Committee chairman H'ng Mooi Lye said Zantalite Enterprise (M) Sdn Bhd retracted its application on May 9.
"The company submitted its application for the construction of a foreign workers' dormitory in Teluk Kumbar on Nov 16, last year.
"However, I want to inform the august house today that the company retracted its application on May 9," he said in his winding up speech at the state legislative assembly sitting here this afternoon.
H'ng said, as for the other company, Chong Company Sdn Bhd, the Penang Island City Council (MBPP) had approved the planning permission application for the construction of one block of 27-storey foreign workers' dormitory.
Comprising a total of 512 units, it is supposed to be built on Lot 1859, 1860 and 1865, Tingkat Teluk Kumbar, Mukim 9, in the Southwest district.
"However, the C1 Form has yet to be issued to the company as it has yet to fulfil some of the conditions set by the city council.
"The state government's stand is clear. On the issue of foreign workers' dormitories, any project planned must adhere to the technical conditions set.
"Any application submitted must implement the Social Impact Assessment (SIA) and Traffic Impact Assessment (TIA), while for new applications involving more than 10,000 capacity, it has to get the approval of the National Physical Planning Council," he added.
In November last year, the Penang government said it had approved two applications for the construction of foreign workers' dormitories in Teluk Kumbar.
H'ng had said that based on the approval that had been certified by the Penang State Planning Committee, an estimated 32,680 foreign workers would be placed in the Teluk Kumbar area.
On a separate issue, H'ng told the assembly that there were 98 illegal factories operating in the MBPP area and 390 in the Seberang Prai City Council (MBSP) area.
He also said that Phase Two of the Gurney Bay project has been delayed by more than 120 days.
"It is supposed to reach 80 per cent progress by now but it is only 52 per cent now, which is a 28 per cent delay," he said.
On Feb 3, this year, Phase One of the Gurney Bay project was opened to the public.
The Gurney Bay project, valued at more than RM200 million, is divided into two phases.
Phase Two, measuring 28.8ha, encompasses a hawker centre, retail area, convenience stores, north viewing deck, public toilets, additional hawker kiosks, multi-storey car park, open car park, water garden, surau, water taxis jetty, man-made beach and boardwalk, refuse centre, north water body and more.