The Penang government is planning to build more dormitories for the accommodation needs of foreign workers to tackle the problem of these workers flooding local housing schemes.

More dormitories are needed for foreign workers to holistically house them in a systematic manner for their well-being and safety, the state executive councillor for local government, housing and town and country planning, Jagdeep Singh Deo, said.

Jagdeep said the move is also to address the issue of these workers flooding the local residential housing schemes.

He said among five housing projects currently under construction, one is a workers' housing scheme in Bukit Minyak, on mainland Penang, which will be completed in October this year.

The building will obtain its certification of completion and compliance soon.

"This can resolve the problems of foreign workers living within our housing schemes, for they are too many of such workers," Jagdeep told Malaysiakini.

"I have received many complaints regarding this issue," he added.

200,000 foreign workers in Penang

Jagdeep said there are about 200,000 foreign workers in Penang but official data from the Immigration Department puts the figure at about 93,000.

The undocumented workers would be around the same number as claimed by the Federation of Malaysian Manufacturers.

In its first phase, the workers' dormitories can provide 25,000 beds, Jagdeep said.

He also allayed fears of traffic congestion and flooding, which were raised by Bukit Tengah PKR assemblyperson Gooi Hsiao Leung.

Gooi had then asked why the workers' dormitory was being built near a residential area.

The issue was raised by the Gerakan candidate for the Bukit Tengah state seat, Dr Thor Tiong Gee of Gerakan, just before the recently concluded 14th general election.

Jagdeep said roads around the dormitory would be expanded to alleviate traffic congestion and flooding.

"Other locations away from residential areas are also being looked at to build the workers' dormitories," he added.