KOTA TINGGI: Two months after the Sungai Johor pollution crisis, some 150 fishermen from the Kampung Orang Asli Sayong Pinang settlement remain in financial distress as their livelihoods fail to recover.
The fishermen said their catches and income have plummeted, citing deep concern over Sungai Sayong Pinang. The river has become increasingly shallow, with water levels reaching only thigh height.
Kampung Orang Asli Sayong Pinang Fishermen Network chairman Azman Inan said sediment is believed to have settled in the river after a sand-washing pond, linked to a local company's mining activities, burst.
He said the situation has forced fishermen to alter their routes to Sungai Linggiu and other upstream areas, involving journeys of up to three hours while waiting for Sungai Sayong Pinang to recover.
"At times, we are forced to risk spending the night on the river, setting out in the evening and waiting until the next day to haul in our catch before returning to the jetty," he said at the village fishing jetty today.
Azman said while fish fry had been released into the river, the measure has yet to restore an ecosystem severely damaged by the pollution, which recorded peak raw water turbidity of 37,400 Nephelometric Turbidity Units (NTU).
The incident resulted in the death of more than a tonne of fish, including baung, lampam and jelawat, which were found floating along the river.
Azman said the fishermen were disappointed by the lack of response from the company believed to be responsible.
He alleged the firm appears to have abandoned its responsibility by failing to address compensation claims, despite two police reports being lodged.
"We hope the company would at least send a representative to meet and discuss the matter with us, but that has not happened," he said, adding that not a single sen has been paid in compensation.
He said while fishermen previously returned with tens of kilogrammes of fish and shrimp, they now struggle to earn a living, often returning with only one or two baung.
During a visit today, several fishermen returning to the jetty described their catches as merely enough to eat.
"If it is just one or two fish, I am too embarrassed to sell them. I just take them home for my family and try to recover the RM20 to RM30 fuel cost for the boat engine," said fisherman Mazuri Mat, 43.
Aris Adong, 55, who has been fishing since he was 18, said Sungai Sayong Pinang was once a productive ground where fishermen could earn up to RM1,000 a day during peak seasons.
Today, Aris managed to catch only a single baung after heading out early to the Sungai Linggiu area, 2 km away.
"Our income has declined, but we have no choice because this is our only livelihood. Even if the earnings are small, we still have to go out to support our families," said the father of three school-going children.
Aris said he has been forced to travel further to cover upcoming school expenses. He also expressed concern that the sand mining bund could burst again during the monsoon season, and urged the state government to monitor the situation.
The pollution along Sungai Johor in October last year was the worst recorded involving water supply sources in Johor, affecting more than 292,000 consumer accounts across Kota Tinggi, Johor Baru, Pontian, Gelang Patah and Kulai. - NST
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