KUCHING: There is a huge economic potential in the fishing industry and new ideas to make it lucrative must be tapped, says Pantai Damai assemblyman Dr Abdul Rahman Junaidi.
“There are new ideas and agenda to make the industry lucrative for local fishermen and this is to improve their socio-economic wellbeing. Once these fishermen can sustain their livelihood and improve their income, they can focus to make fishing a lucrative business,” he said.
He was speaking to members of Fishermen Association of Buntal (PNK Buntal) before officiating at their 37th annual general meeting at Kampung Buntal multipurpose hall here recently.
Dr Abdul Rahman said it was always the objective of the government through the Ministry of Modernisation of Agriculture to improve the livelihood of fishermen.
“But all must be involved and focus their activities and stay under one umbrella organisation which they have built for many years,” he said, referring to the association which is quite established.
He elaborated that before they can change and be vital players in the industry or become entrepreneurs they must help to develop the fishing industry.
While urging them to be competitive and take the challenge, he said present-day fishermen must not stay idle but share ideas with their counterparts from other areas in order to stay abreast with current developments.
“That is why the government built basic infrastructure like roads to make everybody connected with one another.
“The better the logistics the better it is for people to develop their opportunity and business,” he enthused.
Dr Abdul Rahman said the government through the Ministry of Modernisation of Agriculture had not only helped fishermen but also farmers and plantation owners to improve their livelihood and have sustainable income.
“The government is building facilities to help fishermen with their catch like the ice storage or processing plant as these will allow them to eradicate the ‘middlemen’ and deal directly with consumers,” he said.
He said if they could get rid of the middlemen they would be able to make more money and become businessmen themselves.
“This is the micro policy of the government – to improve the socio-economy of fishermen,” he pointed out.
“If their livelihood is good then they can also make sure that their children have better education and if their children excel in their studies they become useful people in the society and contribute to the development of the nation,” he added.
Chairman of the association, Djoesman Supian, said that they have 1,375 members, comprising fishermen from Kampung Buntal, Kampung Santubong, Kampung Salak, Kampung Pasir Pandak and Kampung Bako.
He revealed that in 2013, the association made RM274,756 and last year the amount increased by 99 per cent to RM744,988 due to economic projects given by the government, which included processing seafood, commercialising barbeque fish, supplying fresh, processed and cooked seafood, selling subsidised diesel to fishermen, supplying marine equipment, supplying boat and building construction.
Yesterday, the association received RM56,122.50 as education fund for their children.
Dr Rahman and Demak Laut assemblyman Dr Hazland Hipni later gave RM5,000 each for the association to carry out its activities.