PRIVATISATION of several of facilities was the right move to enable the Sabah Fishery Marketing Authority (SAFMA) to leap forward and effectively generate its own income.
Deputy Chief Minister cum Agriculture and Food Industry Minister Datuk Seri Panglima Yahya Hussin said the agency, now known as Sabah Fishery Marketing Sdn Bhd, no longer received government assistance to maintain its operations.
“As such, the collaboration or lease agreement on its operation and premises is seen as the best move, particularly in enabling the agency to provide for its own operations and maintenance costs.
“The facilities in Safma were used since 1984 and most of them were in a state of dilapidation, thus requiring constant maintenance,” he said in his winding-up speech at the State Assembly sitting yesterday.
According to Yahya, Safma never imposed any landing charge for its jetty since it was established over 28 years ago, despite it having incurred high maintenance costs.
He said that the boat operators association using the jetty had recently met with the private company now running the facility, and agreed to a 10 sen charge for every kilogram of fish landed.
Earlier, Yahya told the House that more than 19,500 poor and hardcore poor individuals listed under e-Kasih had received various assistance as of last year.
He said RM275 million had been utilised under e-Kasih so far, with another RM80.8 million approved by the Federal Government for next year.
The ministry was given RM168.59 million development allocation and RM304.57 million management allocation under the 2014 State Budget announced last Friday.
The biggest chunk of the allocations will go to the Drainage and Irrigation Department and Agriculture Department with RM57 million and RM51.62 million respectively.