State’s fishermen to get monsoon aid

THE Fisheries Development Authority of Malaysia (LKIM) has opened applications for fishermen affected by bad weather during the monsoon season.

LKIM Johor director Intan Suhaila Othman said fishermen could claim up to RM3,000 in compensation.

Intan Suhaila says RM10.4mil is allocated for Johor fishermen.“So far, no reports have been lodged on untoward incidents, but we have prepared the aid under the Disaster Management Fund just in case.

“They will also receive a subsistence allowance of RM300 per month due to uncertainties in sea catch during this time,” she said when contacted.

Intan Suhaila added that those affected would need to alert their respective associations before LKIM could assess the damage and award compensation.

“This year, the government allocated RM10.4mil to be distributed to fishermen in Johor as a monthly allowance from January until December.

“We will also continue our Fishermen Equipment Assistance Touch Point Programme (Touch Point) to distribute equipment to fishermen in the state next year.

“We have also distributed aid worth RM100,000 to fishermen in Johor during the monsoon season earlier this year,” she said.

More than 8,000 members come under Johor’s various fishermen’s associations, with about 3,000 of them receive the monthly allowance.

LKIM chairman Muhammad Faiz Fadzil said the agency had allocated RM250,000 under the Disaster Management Fund to be given to fishermen affected by the monsoon.

“This is besides the monthly allowance,” he said.

The government gives fishermen several types of aid during the monsoon season, including RM300 monthly allowance for reduced catch in December and January. — Photos: BK

He said LKIM had also given outboard motor engines, drift nets and 100-litre insulation boxes, worth RM61,500 in total, to 51 fishermen in Pasir Gudang.

“Another two recipients were given outboard motor engines and 35 units of drift nets, worth RM15,900.

“We have also given 50-litre insulation boxes and 123 units of drift nets worth RM9,672 to 16 other fishermen,” he said.

The government had allocated RM1.5mil monthly for the Touch Point programme, which had helped 5,141 fishermen nationwide.