KUALA NERUS: Fishermen in Seberang Takir welcomed the government’s announcement to raise the monthly allowance to RM250 but it will not solve major problems such as encroachment by trawlers along coastal fishing grounds. In addition, the fuel subsidy need to be increased as most of the coastal fishermen had to top up with their hard earned cash to support the costs of buying fuel, which further reduces their take home income. “The increase in allowance helps but the government need to seriously check the activity of trawlers fishing within the off limit zone meant for coastal fishermen. Otherwise the resources would be depleted and coastal fishermen will suffer. He added that asking the fishermen to venture into agriculture would be futile as they do now own sizeable land.

Source: New Strait Times October 11, 2019 15:45 UTC