The Umno objection comes in the wake of a protest by residents living within a five-kilometre radius of the proposed workers’ quarters. The residents voiced their objection on social media.

They said the influx of thousands of foreign workers would change the social landscape of the town, which has become the centre of elite housing for Malay professionals, Bernama reported.

Bertam, about 21km from Butterworth, lies within the Kepala Batas parliamentary constituency in northern mainland Penang.

Roslan Saidin, management committee chairman of Kepala Batas Umno, said the proposed influx of foreign workers could disrupt the peace and comfort of the locals living in nearby residential areas and villages.

“We also think the construction of centralised labour quarters in the area is very inappropriate,” he said in a statement today, Bernama reported.

“The Kepala Batas Umno division views this issue seriously and opposes the proposed construction of seven 10-storey blocks of CLQ workers’ dormitories,” he said.

The quarters have been proposed following the development of an industrial area for high technology on a 339-hectare site located at Jalan Tun Hamdan Sheikh Tahir in Bertam, in the Kepala Batas parliamentary constituency.

The quarters will be built based on guidelines under the Workers’ Minimum Standards of Housing and Amenities Act.

Roslan said the division was informed that the CLQ proposal had so far not been submitted by the developer for planning permission. However, he thought it was appropriate to submit an early objection to the proposal.

He said the division welcomed the proposed development of the industrial area as it would mean opportunities for youths in the area, in addition to business opportunities for entrepreneurs.

“Moreover, the area already has an industrial training institute for skilled manpower to meet the needs of the industry,” he said.