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Monday, June 13, 2011

‘More import licences for seafood not the solution’

More than 400 Sarawak fishermen have stopped going out to sea since earlier this month because they cannot cope with increased cost and the government's refusal to check on licensed foreign competitors

SIBU: Sarawak deepsea trawler operators want the government to check on the “foreign vessels and crew” operating in Tanjung Manis here before issuing more import licences to counter the strike by fishermen nationwide.

The Sarawak Fishing Vessels Association said there were 289 deepsea fishing vessels enjoying the same diesel subsidies, which are allegedly selling off their catch to motherships.

Association president chairman Ha Tung Ting said although the vessels belonged to local companies, the crew were all foreigners who had illicit dealing with motherships from their own countries which await their “catch” far away in the open sea.

“They are also entitled to subsidised diesel.

“So far this month, I have been told that they had used 600,000 litres of their diesel quota of 3,000,000 litres but where are the fish?” he said, pointing out that more than 400 vessels belonging to their members have not gone to sea since earlier this month.

He said the trawlers were mainly from Sibu, Sarikei and Bintulu. The current price of diesel at RM1.80 per litre compared to RM1.25 previously, made it too expensive for them to go out to sea.

“A boat will have to spend at least RM10,000 extra per trip if they go out to sea now.

“We cannot afford this. We cannot go out to fish as we will incur losses,” he said adding that it was not possible to offload the cost onto the consumers.

“They won’t buy if the prices are high,” he added.

Earlier today Taiping MP Nga Kor Ming said the prices of seafood had gone up by thirty percent after about 1,000 C2 licensed fishermen in Johor, Pahang and Perlis went on strike on Saturday, June 11.

The three-day strike has caused prices of fish and seafood to spiral.

The operators are threatening to prolong the strike if the government does not rescind its decision.

Unable to pay salaries

Meanwhile Ha said members were increasing worried at the situation.

Many have had to lay off their crew because they have not been able to pay them salaries.

“Some of our members have laid off more than 300 crew members. They cannot afford the salaries anymore,” he said.

Ha said that they have never had problems with the government and had always given them their support.

“That is why we have decided not to hold protests or demonstrations. We believe in negotiation,” Ha said.

Ha however added that they were united with their counterparts in Peninsular Malaysia in appealing to the government to rescind its decision to withdraw super subsidies on diesel.

Justifying the withdrawal, Domestic Trade, Cooperative and Consumerism Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob had reportedly said new rate of RM1.80 a litre was still very much lower than industrial standards.

The government has however refused to bow to threats from the C2 trawler operators.

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