Fishermen assured they will continue to get cost of living allowance

KUALA LUMPUR: The Agriculture and Agro-based Industry Ministry reassures fishermen that the government will not stop the cost of living allowance for them, its Minister Datuk Salahuddin Ayub told Dewan Rakyat yesterday.

He said besides the allowance, other incentives such as diesel subsidy which fishermen had been enjoying since 2008 would also be continued.

“I want the Tangga Batu representative to only listen to the statement from my ministry and not to listen to hearsay as the government has assured that no allowance will be stopped and the incentives provided since 2008 will be continued for fishermen,” he said during Dewan Rakyat questionand-answer session yesterday.

He was replying to a supplementary question from Rusnah Aluai (PHTangga Batu) who wanted the minister to confirm if it was true that there was a government proposal to stop incentives for fishermen including allowance, diesel subsidy and catch incentive of between 10 to 20 per cent.

In June, Salahuddin said the monthly cost of living allowance for fishermen would not be halted after the Pakatan Harapan government had taken over the country’s administration. Responding to another question from Rusnah on the category of fishermen receiving the allowance, Salahuddin said only deserving fishermen who actually made fishing as a livelihood would qualify for the allowance.

He said the ministry would also implement specific plans to increase the income of such groups by setting up more fish breeding areas at certain locations as well as projects to repair damaged coastal areas due to erosion.

He said the ministry would also include encouraging fishermen who had land to plant various new varieties of high value fruits such as honey pineapple and ‘mutiara merah’ rambutan.