MIRI: Class C2 fishermen are reminded to be patient and not to do anything that can damage the good image of fishermen here, following protest over the government’s move to reduce subsidised diesel for C2 fishermen.
President of Sarawak Fishermen Association (Panesa), Tamrin Bustaman, said they planned to have a dialogue session with the related government agencies on the matter.
“In the meantime, we want all C2 fishermen to be patient,” he said when met yesterday.
Tamrin said he understood the difficulties faced by the fishermen, as the cost of going to sea was very high.
“One trip (to the sea) can cost them between RM30,000 and RM40,000. The high price of diesel cannot even be covered by proceeds from their catch,” he said. It was reported on June 13 that 400 fishing vessels belonging to Sarawak Fishermen Vessels Association (SFVA) in the state’s central region did not go out to the sea as a protest over the government’s move to slash diesel subsidy for deep sea fishermen.
SFVA chairman, Ha Tung Ting, was quoted as saying that the protest was made following the announcement that after June 1, all Class C2 fishermen would have to purchase diesel at RM1.85 a litre instead of RM1.25.
Minister of Agriculture and Agro-Based Industry, Datuk Seri Noh Omar, meanwhile said on June 14 that although the subsidy was slashed, deep sea fishermen were still enjoying better benefits and incentives than the coastal fishermen.