ALL developers in Penang, who have been granted permission to resume work on their projects during the ongoing movement control order (MCO), have been urged to prioritise their workers’ health issue.
Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow said he hoped they would ensure that construction site is a safe place for foreign and local workers.
“Only with healthy bodies can they complete the projects. It is for their own interest that their workers are protected so that they can continue to work and complete their jobs as required,” Chow said after visiting the Queens Waterfront foreign workers’ cabins and the project site today.
Queens Waterfront, which is located opposite Queensbay Mall, is being developed by Ideal Property Group.
“I have visited multinationals and SMEs to see their compliance with the new normal and social distancing.
“Now, I am visiting the construction site because of the various concerns about foreign workers at construction sites.”
Joining Chow during his visit was Komtar assemblyman Teh Lai Heng, who is also Chow’s political secretary.
Chow and Teh were welcomed by Ideal Property Group executive chairman Tan Sri Alex Ooi and his wife, Puan Sri Joanne Phor, who is the executive director, chief operating officers Datuk Ng Tyan Ping and Simon Ong, general manager Connie Ang and senior project manager Lu Peng Khim.
They were then ushered to the site office to be briefed by senior safety and health officer Shamsukor Ahmad on the standard operating procedures taken by the company.
All attendees had their body temperature checked and hand sanitised before entering the office.
In the video shown, workers were required to undergo body temperature checks and wash their hands properly before being allowed to start work. At work, they had to wear masks as well as observe social distancing.
After the briefing, Chow and Teh were taken on a tour of the workers’ cabins, kitchen area and then a showroom of the Queens Waterfront project.
There are about 500 foreign workers hired by Ideal for the Queens Waterfront condo project. Each cabin can accommodate four persons.
“We have seen for ourselves and got a briefing from the developer here. In fact, they have housed all the workers in the quarters for the past 40 over days since MCO was implemented.
“They have provided food and kept them in the quarters, and before they start work, they have put in place social distancing and personal hygiene protocol.
“This is something we appreciate from the developer who knows that it is important to look after their workers.
“And I understand that the developer has been giving advice to others like contractors or sub- contractors so that they also comply with the safety measures.
“When the construction is in full operation, we can be assured that they have gone through all the good practices to ensure construction site is a safe place to work,”Chow added.
He said all developers must contact the state Health Department or authorities if there is any case that warrants their attention.
Ooi said Ideal Property Group has been granted by the Ministry of International Trade and Industry (MITI) to resume work by using 50% of their workforce each day for now.
“We have tried to resume work with only 50% workers, but we are facing a lot of problems because our sub-contractors have not obtained the approval to start work,” Ooi explained.
“Hence, we could not get certain material as yet. Hopefully, the state government can help us.”
Ooi said he was confident that there would be no new clusters of Covid-19 from his foreign workers as they have been in quarantine for almost two months.
The only worry, he said, is workers brought into the site by the sub-contractors or suppliers. However, he said his company would ensure that outside workers also undergo body temperature check and take other precautionary measures.
Queens Waterfront is developed in four phases. The first two phases are currently in progress, featuring a total of 950 residential units in two residential blocks with built-up areas of 950sq ft, 1,000sq ft, 1,200sq ft and 1,650sq ft. The price is from RM680,000.
Story by K.H. Ong
Pix by Darwina Mohd Daud
Video by Chan Kok Kuan