Noh taken to task over fishermen’s strike

The government has refused to bow to striking fishermen and will instead issue more licences to import fish and seafood to meet demand.

KUALA LUMPUR: The government’s response to a strike by C2 licensed deepsea fishermen in Pahang, Johor and Perlis has drawn flak from the opposition.

Responding to Agriculture and Agro-based Industry Minister Noh Omar’s censure of the fishermen, Taiping MP Nga Kor Ming said the government should understand the problems faced by the trawler operators instead of issuing a warning.

Noh had warned the fishermen from zones A, B and C not to get involved in the strike as their subsidies were still intact.

He warned that fishermen who flouted the warning would have their licences revoked.

The three-day strike, which began on June 11, has caused prices of fish and seafood to spiral. The operators are threatening to prolong the strike if the government does not accede to their demand immediately.

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 to RM1.25 previously.

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

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

When met by reporters at the parliament lobby later, Ismail Sabri said he is unaware of the increase in the prices of fish and seafood.

Pressing issue

Noh said today that the Fisheries Department would be asked to import more fish from neighbouring countries.

He also said that should the strike continue, then the ministry would issue more import licences.

Speaking to reporters in Parliament today, Nga said: “Pakatan’s stand on the matter is to immediately meet with the class C2 fishermen on strike.

“It’s a pressing issue. Since the strike began, there has been a 30% drop in seafood supply and a 30% increase in seafood prices.

“One should understand their problem instead of merely issuing warnings to the fisherman.”

Meanwhile, Noh’s deputy, Chua Tee Yong, said he was willing to meet the striking fishermen.

“I am still keen to meet them. They have expressed that they wanted to come and see me also.

“But because they don’t have an association that represents the C2 fishermen, it’s quite spread out so I am still waiting for a date on when they would come to see me,” he added.

Chua said that as a part of the government’s programme of subsidy rationalisation, subsidy for fishermen had to be restructured.

“There were a lot of negative feedback because the decision was quite sudden,” he added.