Extend age of fishermen receiving living allowance aid — LKIM

SUNGAI BULOH: The Fisheries Development Authority of Malaysia (LKIM) has proposed that the government considers extending the age of fishermen receiving the living allowance assistance from 70 to 75 years.

Its chairman Datuk Seri Dr Irmohizam Ibrahim said, “My hope (for Budget 2018) is to see the fate of these fishermen being taken care of. I see fishermen who are 70 years and above still going to sea, and I hope that their living allowance can be extended to the age of 75.

“There are also many fishermen whose homes on the beach are in a bad state. I very much hope their homes can be restored,” he told reporters after launching the programme ‘Let’s Eat Fish’ (Jom Makan Ikan) in conjunction with the Reducing the Cost of Living campaign, here yesterday.

Irmohizam, who is also Kuala Selangor MP, said such programmes needed to be increased to address the involvement of middlemen in marine product transaction so consumers could get more affordable prices.

At the event, three tonnes of fresh fish and more than one tonne of frozen fresh fish or Q’Fish were sold at 50 percent discount. The programme will be held every month at selected locations including in the Klang Valley.

Meanwhile, Irmohizam said in an effort to expand the marketing of Q-Fish, LKIM invited local co-operatives and entrepreneurs to work with the National Fishermen’s Association (Nekmat). Bernama