Don’t be harsh with trawlers, says MCA

MCA urges the government to hold a dialogue with the fishermen to hear their grouses.

KUALA LUMPUR: MCA today criticised the government for taking a harsh stand against C2 licensed deepsea fishermen who went on strike in Pahang, Johor and Perlis.

In response to the three-day strike, which started on June 11, the government said it will not bow down to pressure from the fishermen.

“It is unwise of the government to adopt a tough stance on the trawlers,” MCA central committee member, Loh Seng Kok, said in a statement today.

“If both sides are not willing to come to the table… matters will become worse,” he added.

He urged the government to hold a dialogue with the fishermen as the strike was merely a move to draw attention to fishermen’s plight.

About 1,000 C2 trawlers went on strike to get the government to reconsider the withdrawal of their super diesel subsidy.

The C2 trawler operators will now have to pay RM1.80 per litre compared with RM1.25 previously.

The operators are threatening to prolong the strike if the government does not accede to their demand immediately.

Justifying the increase, Domestic Trade, Cooperative and Consumerism Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob had reportedly said the rates were still very much lower than industrial standards.

He was also reported to have said that the government refused to bow to threats from the trawler operators.

Agriculture and Agro-based Industry Minister Noh Omar also weighed in, warning fishermen from zones A, B and C not to get involved in the strike as their subsidies were still intact.

He said that fishermen who disobeyed would have their licences revoked.

Met later, Ismail Sabri told reporters at the Parliament lobby that it was “unfair” of MCA to make such statements as party president, Dr Chua Soi Lek, was a member of the National Economic Council, which decided on matters pertaining to subsidy cuts.

He also told the fishermen: “Don’t threaten the government by saying ‘I will give you three days to settle or else’… they should discuss first before going on strike.”