Last week, the government announced recreational fishing and other sports activities would be allowed under a more relaxed movement control order (MCO) beginning Feb 12.
While it sounded like good news that both sports fishing businesses and avid anglers should welcome, the reality on the ground is different.
Recreational fishing services said that although they are now exempted from a mandatory shutdown, they see little to no revenue due to travel restrictions faced by their customers.
Teoh Bee Ahoon, who owns a fishing pond in Kamunting, Perak, said he only received two customers in three days after the total ban on fishing activities was lifted.
This was despite the long weekend as last Friday was a public holiday for the Chinese New Year. Such events usually mean that fishing ponds like his would be filled with anglers willing to pay some money to get their 'fix'.
"There is no business. The pond is open, but it is just like we are not. Since the past three days, only two anglers have come.
"The fees collected were not enough to pay my workers daily earnings and other costs," he told Malaysiakini when contacted on Sunday.
Teoh had been operating his Senwell Fishing Park for the past eight years and employed three workers.
During the days before Covid-19 pandemic, he said the pond would attract around 40 anglers a day, and the numbers could reach as high as 100 during public holidays, with customers coming from all over Perak and some from other states.
"During the conditional MCO, there was still some business because people from around Perak can still travel to come here," he said.
The government is now allowing several recreational sectors like fishing to resume during the current MCO, but a ban on cross-district and cross-state travels is still in force.
Travel for members of the public is also limited to a maximum of 10km from their residence.
Mohd Fauzi Mohd Zainal, who operates a kelong (a fishing platform) called Kelong Pozi Kuala Lukut off the coast of Port Dickson, Negeri Sembilan, is even worse off.
Since the kelong reopened on Friday, his business has yet to see a single customer.
"I did receive calls from several anglers who expressed interest to come, but as the standard operating procedures (SOP) set by the government only allows 10km maximum travel distance, they could not come.
"Most of my customers, around 60 to 70 percent, are from outside of Negeri Sembilan," he said.
Fauzi also claimed that there are anglers still confused with the SOP set by the National Security Council, particularly on the 10km limit.
They are not sure if the maximum travel only covers the range from their residence to the Kuala Lukut Jetty, where Fauzi's boat takes off to the kelong or inclusive of the fishing platform where they are going to cast their fishing rods.
This is because the platform is located offshore, which means several additional kilometres of travel by boat.
"There are customers who live within 10km from the jetty. But because they are unsure, and scared that they would be fined, the anglers chose not to go fishing at this juncture," said the kelong operator.
Fauzi said that while he understands the need for a travel ban and agrees it should stay until the pandemic situation comes under control, he hopes that the government would clarify its SOPs.
Boat operator Ahmad Hasnan, who operates from a jetty in Kampung Dew, Taiping, Perak, told a similar story.
"I feel there is no difference. Since Friday, I have not received any customers yet, because most of my customers came from outside Perak.
"There have been several who called me asking about fishing trips, but they can't come now due to the travel restrictions," said Ahmad, or better known as Jebat among anglers.
The 32-year-old boat operator said that he usually brings anglers to a nearby river mouth to fish for sea bass, catfish and lobsters for a fee. But with no customer, he now resorts to doing odd jobs at his village to make ends meet.
Limited choices for anglers
Meanwhile, several anglers also expressed their indifference to the relaxed rule.
Engineer Mohd Shah Redza Hanif, who lives in Sepang, said he would only go fishing again when there is no travel ban.
"The nearest pond for recreational fishing is in Seri Kembangan, which is already more than 10km and cross-district.
"It is normal for anglers to travel to far locations that suit them. But right now, the travel limit means interesting spots like Klang, Port Dickson, Rompin and such are off-limits. So I would just wait until there is no travel ban."
Ahmad Helmi Shaharuddin, a marketing manager who lives in Shah Alam, said he could not even go fishing within 10km from his house.
This is because the Shah Alam City Council still bans fishing activities at any location under its jurisdiction.
"I prefer not to go to a paid fishing pond, because it would be crowded and the waiting queue is long during this Covid-19 pandemic.
"Other locations like in Puchong Prima, where I can go on a boat to fish, or water retention ponds in Semenyih in Bangi are all more than 10km from where I stay.
"So, for now, I would wait. I think all anglers who really care about SOPs would not go for now as the choices are limited, which means places would be crowded." - Mkini
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