MAN KEEPS FAMILY AFLOAT BY FISHING
After business falls victim to pandemic, ex-event planner turns to old hobby to provide for family
“GIVE a man a fish, and you’ll feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish, and you’ll feed him for a lifetime.” The proverb perhaps best describes the trajectory of the life of Kenny Koh, 39, in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic, which laid waste to his business, but also served as an impetus for him to keep going.
For 15 years, Koh, from Selangor, had run a successful event management company, which had counted multinational corporations among its clients to set up booths, stages and showcase platforms at exhibitions, shows and seminars around the world.
Things came to a halt when travel restrictions because of the pandemic hit in early last year.
“No public events, functions or even gatherings were allowed. Jobs dried up, and eventually by the end of last year, my business folded.
“Like everyone else, we were sitting at home for months on end.
“With no income, we had to dip into our savings just to get by. To compound matters, my wife also lost her job,” said Koh.
Koh said his wife started teaching tuition online, but the income wasn’t enough to sustain the family.
He said despite his best efforts, companies weren’t hiring, much less someone at his age.
“I was at my wits’ end as I realised that chances of me getting a job were slim at best.
“Raising the white flag wasn’t an option as we were still able to find ways of putting food on the table,” he said.
He also said it was then that he decided to resort to fishing.
Fishing, Koh said, was a hobby he used to enjoy years ago, and he believed he could do it full-time and make a living by selling his catch.
“My wife wasn’t too happy about it, but I was determined to make it work,” he said.
Koh secured a 6m boat from old fishing buddies, who let him use the vessel for free provided he made it seaworthy again.
To save money, Koh did the work himself. He repaired the cracks and canopy, repainted the hull and serviced the outboard motor.
“I asked my friends about things that I didn’t know. I also looked up online and learnt how to do things.
“I used what money I had to buy fishing equipment, such as rods, reels, tackles, fishing lines and other equipment. It cost a tidy sum, but it was something I had already committed to seeing through,” he said.
Koh is now a full-time fisherman. For the past few months, his day begins about 4am, when he and his friend take the boat out to sea.
They sometimes go as far as 40 nautical miles out, and come back as late as 7pm.
On a lucky day, his haul could include grouper, Spanish mackerel, golden snapper, white snapper, cobia, Indian threadfin and fourfinger threadfin.
Koh said it was not an easy life as the weather and other conditions could get harsh.
“Sometimes I’m would get a big catch, earning me about RM500. There were days where I return empty-handed or with just a handful of fish, but I never give up.
“I’ve never been someone who backs down from a challenge. Whenever I feel down or on the verge of quitting, I think of my family and how I must provide for them the best I can,” he said.
Koh sells his catch to restaurants, friends and acquaintances.
He said he did not deal with middlemen as they bought fish cheap but sell at inflated prices.
“I make sure that I sell at competitive prices as there are many out there suffering (by the pandemic’s impacts).
“I don’t believe in profiteering. As long as I can earn money and put food on the table, it is good enough for me,” he said.
Koh said his wife and son worried about him whenever he went out to sea.
However, he said they understood his reasons for doing so.
“I’m doing this for them, to keep us afloat. I don’t know what the future holds for us, but I count my blessings,” he said.
Koh said he was working on getting his own boat.
Koh also said he would diversify into other fields if his venture was successful.
He said he might abandon the idea of returning to the corporate world even if the opportunity arises.
“Even if the pandemic ends, I may carry on being a fisherman.
“I can’t see myself working in the corporate sector anymore.”