Pakatan Harapan's candidate for the Bukit Tengah state seat in Penang, Gooi Hsiao Leung has slammed BN for trying to politicise the caretaker state government's plan to build a foreign workers' hostel in Juru, Seberang Perai Selatan.

"I am aware that there are many local issues in Bukit Tengah that need attention, for example, the perennial flooding, the sub-division of land titles, and also the foreign workers' hostel.

"I have committed to the voters of Juru village, that upon election, I would be fully engaged with the foreign workers' hostel matter," he said when met in Juru, adding that the hostel issue was still pending an appeal with planning authorities and a "clearer" view can only be seen when the decision on the appeal has been made.

Gooi was responding to criticisms that he did not turn up for a recent dialogue session organised by activists, about the issue, in the area.

BN's candidate for the seat, Dr Thor Teong Gee was present at the session.

Residents in Juru are up in arms over the plan to build the foreign workers' hostel in their area, citing that the areas will be flooded with foreigners, and it could contribute to the increase in social problems.

It is learnt that no representatives from the six residents' associations which had protested against the issue, had attended the said dialogue.

Gooi urged all stakeholders in the matter to work with him, in establishing the facts, and understand the matter in order to find a solution, instead of politicising it.

Thor, who is a medical doctor by profession, is also new to the seat, and has drafted his manifesto around the issue of the foreign workers' hostel, which he insists must be moved to another location, as it affects about 6,000 voters in Juru.

Besides that, Thor also vows to tackle flooding and traffic congestion issues in the constituency.