Fishermen threaten boycott over subsidy cut

No trawlers will go out to sea if the government remains adamant on cutting out super subsidies on diesel.

KUCHING: Deepsea fishing trawler operators nationwide are prepared to boycott the sea if the government goes ahead with its decision to abolish super subsidies on diesel.

In an absolute show of unity, the operators from Sarawak said if the government continued to remain adamant, then its members together with their associates nationwide will stage a boycott and stay away from fishing.

Already the Perak Trawlers Association has said that it will stage a boycott on June 11.

The government’s decision to abolish super subsidies went into effect on June 1.

Said Kuching Trawlers Association secretary Tan Boon Ting: “We will be meeting all our counterparts in Peninsular Malaysia on June 11 to discuss the matter. We will stand together over this issue.

“If we reach a common stand, we may call for a boycott. The cutting of fuel subsidy should not be taken lightly.”

Tan said that cutting the subsidy was damaging to their livelihood and all the associations throughout the country were in touch with each other and shared the same view on the issue.

“If the cut is in place, we will have to pay extra RM10,000 per trip. It is impossible for us to absorb this extra cost.

“If we do that, members will have to adjust the price of fish and the consumers will pay higher prices. And it will have serious repercussions on the fishing industry.

“If government insists on implementing the fuel subsidy cut, we will not go out to fish anymore, ” he said.

In an immediate reaction to the government’s announcement last month, the Sarawak Fishing Vessels Association had also urged the government to rescind its decision.

Its chairman, Ha Tung Ting, had warned of “serious repercussions” if the government went ahead with the move.

The trawlers and other logistics-related groups were among those directly affected by the government’s decision to withdraw subsidies.

The move is expected to save the government RM659.30 million.

Following the government’s announcement, the Sarawak Lorries Transport Association (SLTA) decided to raise the transport charges from 20% to 30%.

SLTA president Jong Foh Jit said its members had no choice but to raise the charges to cover their overhead costs.

More industries affected by the government’s controversial decision are expected to announce similar increases.