RM8,000 passes for foreigners too much, say Kelantan deep sea boat operators

 

The 400 deep sea boat operators in Kelantan previously did not need to pay for work passes when applying to employ foreigners.

PASIR PUTEH: Almost 400 deep sea boat operators in Kelantan will suffer losses of almost RM100 million a year if the government implements the Temporary Employment Visit Pass (PLKS) starting Jan 1.

Boat operators’ representative Hazim Ramli said this is because they are not able to pay the entire cost of over RM8,000 for a foreigner willing to work as a fisherman in the country.

“This includes the cost of levy, 14-day quarantine and the PLKS permit,” he told reporters when handing over a memorandum by the Deep Sea Vessel Operators and Downstream Industry Entrepreneurs to Pasir Puteh MP Nik Muhammad Zawawi Salleh in Tok Bali here today.

Over 200 boat operators and downstream industry players from Bachok, Tumpat, Kota Bharu, Bachok and Pasir Puteh joined him, along with Semerak assemblyman Wan Hassan Wan Ibrahim.

Hazim said that if the implementation goes ahead, the fishery industry, including the downstream industry such as fish crackers entrepreneurs in the country will be affected, with tens of thousands of jobs lost.

He said previously boat operators who applied for work permits for foreign crew only had to go through the Malaysian Fisheries Department, that was authorised by the Malaysian Immigration Department, without any payment.

Hazim urged the government to review the proposal and to temporarily postpone it due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Meanwhile, Nik Zawawi said he would highlight the issue to the relevant authorities so that their appeal will be considered.

He was confident that the government would be concerned over their plight and would do its best to help them. - FMT