Image source: Guang Ming Daily FB

A proposed large-scale Centralised Labour Quarters (CLQ) project in Juru has sparked firm objections from nearby residents, even as the Penang state government clarified that the plan remains at a very preliminary stage with no formal planning submission made to the local authority.

The proposed project involves a 6-acre site along Jalan Juru, opposite Taman Cendana, where three 30-storey blocks are reportedly being studied to accommodate up to 20,000 workers. According to residents, the site was originally understood to be earmarked for an integrated mixed development comprising a hotel, shopping mall, commercial lots, and apartments. However, the plan is said to have shifted to a large workers’ accommodation scheme, prompting widespread concern among surrounding neighbourhoods.

The issue was raised during a focus group discussion (FGD) and social impact assessment (SIA) engagement session attended by Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow, state leaders, local assemblymen, project consultants, and community representatives yesterday. The session was aimed at gathering feedback from affected stakeholders, including residents from nearby housing estates and villages within a 2km radius of the proposed site.

Residents opposing the proposal said the development could affect as many as 20 nearby residential areas and villages, impacting an estimated population of 50,000 people. Their concerns centre on several key issues, including traffic congestion, water supply pressure, public amenities, and neighbourhood security.

One of the most pressing concerns is traffic. Based on residents’ estimates, the project could generate up to 300 factory bus movements daily if workers operate on three shift cycles, significantly increasing congestion along Jalan Juru and surrounding roads. Water supply is another major issue, with nearby neighbourhoods reportedly already facing low water pressure during peak evening hours, sometimes leaving upper floors without water.

Beyond infrastructure, residents also expressed concerns over the social impact of concentrating such a large worker population in a single development. Community representatives stressed that they are not against development in principle, but remain firmly opposed to the CLQ concept at this location. They said a return to the original mixed-use proposal, or even affordable housing that benefits local residents, would be more acceptable.

In response, Chow Kon Yeow reiterated that the proposed CLQ is still in the early research and technical study phase. No application for planning permission has been submitted to the Majlis Bandaraya Seberang Perai (MBSP), meaning the project has not reached the approval consideration stage.

He explained that the developer is currently preparing various technical studies, including the Traffic Impact Assessment (TIA) and Social Impact Assessment (SIA), and that the engagement session was part of the normal pre-development consultation process.

The Chief Minister added that all feedback from residents and other stakeholders is expected to be documented by the appointed consultants and incorporated into the SIA report, which will later serve as an important reference for future decision-making.

For now, the Juru CLQ proposal remains a concept under study, but judging from the strong response from surrounding communities, the findings of the ongoing impact assessments are likely to play a crucial role in shaping the project’s next steps.

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