Editor’s Note: CENTURION Corporation Ltd and Westlite Accommodation Sdn Bhd has provided clarification on the below article by stating that “at no time in time did Westlite Johor Tech Park Sdn Bhd operate without a valid business license“.
WESTLITE Accommodation, a subsidiary of Singapore-based Centurion Corp Ltd, is alleged to have operated worker hostels without valid permits in Johor’s Iskandar Puteri district.
Listed on the Singapore Exchange (SGX). Centurion together with its subsidiaries own develop and manage quality, purpose-built workers accommodation assets in Singapore and Malaysia as well as purpose-built student accommodation assets in Australia, the UK and the US.
In a recent report by Malay language daily, Utusan Malaysia, a spokesperson from the Iskandar Puteri City Council (MBIP) had confirmed that the worker hostel operated by Westlite in Iskandar Puteri had ceased operations.
“The notice issued on Dec 9 had instructed them to halt operations due to regulatory non-compliance and the absence of a valid permit. According to the notice, operations must cease on Dec 16,” Utusan cited the MBIP spokesperson as saying.
This is despite Westlite’s corporate communications representative David Phey having claimed that the company had been operating lawfully.
“Our operating permit has been issued by the Kulai Municipal Council (MPKU). The issue arose due to an address error on the notice issued by MBIP as it pertains to a different district,” he told Utusan.
“A misunderstanding occurred because the area is now under MBIP’s jurisdiction but they (MBIP) have requested us to apply for a new permit. We also hold a lodging certificate from the Department of Labour.”
According to Westlite’s website, its facility boasts a land area of 20,310 sq metres (218,615 sq ft), a gross floor area of 14,958 sq metres (161,006 sq ft) and a bed capacity of circa 1,980 beds (as of Jan 1, 2022).
Operating illegally
However, it was discovered that the company was operating a worker hostel in the Iskandar Puteri district using a permit registered to an address in Kulai.
Further checks on the Department of Labour Peninsular Malaysia (JKTSM) website had found that Westlite has only one certified worker hostel located at Lot No. 6212, Jalan Perindustrian 2, Senai Industrial Zone II, Senai, Kulai, Johor.
At the same time, the website did not list any certified worker hostels for the company in the Iskandar Puteri district.
Surprisingly, in spite of the instructions to halt operations, a visit by Utusan last Wednesday (Dec 25) revealed that the above-mentioned worker hostel located at Technology Park Senai in the Iskandar Puteri district was still operating as usual.
Companies or organisations acting as employers must prioritise worker safety when providing accommodation for their employees.
This is because the Human Resources Ministry through JTKSM has enforced regulations that employers must comply with regarding the provision of housing, accommodation and facilities for workers.
The Workers’ Minimum Standards of Housing, Accommodation and Amenities Act 1990 (Act 446) aims to ensure living environments that are safe, clean and conducive for workers.
Additionally, the Fire and Rescue Department mandates certification for premises such as hostels and worker dormitories of four storeys and above with each floor exceeding 250 sq metres (2,691 sq ft) or six storeys and above. – Dec 30, 2024
Main image credit: Utusan Malaysia
