State investment, trade, consumer affairs and human resources committee chairman Lee Ting Han said the state executive council on May 21 agreed to form the task force with five primary objectives.

“This task force will discuss and resolve issues related to foreign workers in Pengerang; plan and implement actions concerning foreign workers’ quarters; and devise both short-term and long-term solutions to the foreign worker influx.

“Additionally, the task force will develop enforcement measures against employers in managing foreign workers and set policy decisions for further action by the relevant departments,” he said in a Facebook post tonight.

The task force includes representatives from the National Security Council, Kota Tinggi district office, Pengerang Municipal Council, Kota Tinggi land office, police, immigration department, labour department, Johor Petroleum Development Corporation, and Johor Economic Planning Unit.

According to Lee, the first meeting today decided that worker dormitories with previously approved temporary building permits from the municipal council would undergo a regularisation process for more effective regulation.

He said last year’s unmanaged influx of foreign workers in Pengerang caused significant unease and discomfort among the local community due to badly managed workers’ quarters, unsuitable locations and lack of security measures.

“The latest survey found that 461 foreign workers remain in three worker dormitories in Pengerang.

“All of them are employed in the area. Other foreign workers have been relocated by their employers to work elsewhere,” he said, adding that there would be regular monitoring and enforcement.