Allowance, subsidy payment due to wisdom of PM – Yahya
PUTATAN: Fishermen here were yesterday reminded that the monthly allowance and subsidies they received were due to the wisdom of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak and the Barisan Nasional (BN) government that cared for their well-being.
Agriculture and Food Industries Minister Datuk Seri Panglima Yahya Hussin also reminded that the government assistance was not automatically given but was the initiative of the BN government.
“This is a BN government initiative. They need to understand this. There is no guarantee that the opposition will continue to give out these assistance (if they take over). So we need to appreciate who is it that gives ... we need to ask ourselves,” he said.
He also said that without the Goods and Services Tax (GST), it would be difficult for the government to collect enough and give back to the people.
“GST is only six percent, but the Sales and Services Tax is 12 percent. Anyway, the entire world has implemented GST ... what we collect, we have given back in the form of development for the country ... water supply, road, subsidies and allowance such as the ones given out today,” he said during the presentation of the fishermen allowance.
Yahya said the fishermen allowance had been increased to RM300 from RM200.
The allowance is given to the owners of fishing boats and his/ her local workers who worked on the licensed vessel.
To be eligible for the allowance, fishermen must be registered with the e-nelayan system and ‘Sara Hidup' system.
There will be a RM100 deduction on the first payment as premium payment for a one-year insurance.
A total of 1,104 fishermen from here and Kota Kinabalu were at the hall yesterday to receive the allowance, totalling RM301,950.
They also received fuel subsidies to help them reduce their cost of going out to sea, and 10 sen for every kilogramme of fish caught as incentive payments when they come back ashore.
Also present at the event was Kota Kinabalu District Fishermen Association chairman Datuk Haji Arsit Sedi.
On the 13 new State seats for the upcoming election, Yahya said he would accept whatever decision.
“Whatever it is, we will continue to get ourselves ready for the election,” he said.
Yahya added that they would leave the matter to the relevant authorities to decide.
“We just prepare ourselves,” he said.
Meanwhile, octogenarian Samain Duali together with his wife Hajah Nurata expressed their gratitude and appreciation to the government as it has never neglected fishing communities over the years, adding that the allowance given was a generous act by the government.
“I thank the government for the timely disbursal of our living allowance,” said the 85year-old inshore fisherman from Petagas.
Samain recalled during his early days in the fishing industry, he had to buy his own traditional wooden fishing boat in order to make ends meet for his big family.
“The government at present has been really supportive towards us (fishermen). So what else do the people want?” said the father of nine.
Meanwhile, his 70-year-old wife said the annual aid had helped them tremendously to support their families' needs.
Hajah added that they have been in the fishing business for several decades and they woke up as early as the crack of dawn in order to get the best catch of the day.
Another grateful recipient was Norafat Hamidi, a 60-year-old fisherman, who was also elated when the government fulfilled its promise every year.
“I have been in the fishing industry for quite some time now and the government has always been there for us,” he added.