Jamilah to help set up fuel station in Sematan
SEMATAN: Tanjong Datu assemblywoman Datuk Amar Jamilah Anu will take up the issue of setting up a fuel station in Sematan for the convenience of fishermen there.
She said this would greatly ease their burden in going all the way to Lundu to get fuel for their boats.
“I don’t eat meat much, so fish is my dish of choice. I know the hardship of the fishermen who travel far to get fuel for their boats, so I myself will tackle this matter. We are still waiting for approval,” she said at the presentation of Fishermen Living Allowance and National Key Result Areas ( NKRA) 1Azam ( Azam Tani) aid at Sematan Community Hall yesterday.
Aside from that, she said the government was well aware of and understood the hardship faced by fishermen when unable to go to sea due to rough weather.
She said that was why the living allowance for fishermen was introduced, which was previously only RM200 but had since been increased to RM300.
Besides that, she added, the fishermen also receive other forms of assistance like the NKRA 1Azam aid and even life insurance coverage now.
“Thus, they should be grateful for the help by continuing to support the Barisan Nasional government for more developments in the future,” she said.
“The government appreciates the effort by fishermen, so starting this June fishermen will get additional incentive of 10 sen per kg of fish. The government will continue to defend the fate of fishermen,” she added.
At the event, 356 fishermen from Sematan/ Lundu areas received the living allowance.
The event also saw the presentation of school bags to fishermen’s children and aid for funeral expenses. NKRA 1Azam assistance in the form of outboard engines, fishing nets and two fibreglass boats were also given out. At the same time, Jamilah announced an allocation of RM5,000 to the Sematan/ Lundu Fishermen Association for the fishermen’s children’s education fund as requested by the Sematan/ Lundu Fishermen Association deputy chairman Sharkawi Nawi in his speech earlier.
She also urged fishermen to look into turning the area into a tourist destination for seafood dishes.
“I want people to say seafood and think of Lundu/Sematan. Make use of the easily available catch to make the area famous for seafood. We can turn Lundu into a tourism spot in the future.”
“Most of the seafood in the market are sold by middlemen. We need to do something so that it’s not just the middlemen who earn a lot,” she added.
To improve their livelihood further, she urged the fishermen to look into ways of increasing their catch like what their Peninsular Malaysian counterparts do.
She suggested that they look for Malaysia Fisheries Development Authority ( LKIM) deputy state director Nik Rashid Nik Jusoh, a Terengganu folk, to share tips as Terengganu lands a lot more fishes.
“We must look ahead - with the many incentives given we must improve ourselves by getting more fishes.”
Earlier, Nik Rashid said LKIM together with Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism Ministry and Federal Agricultural Marketing Authority (Fama) will be holding a ‘Jualan Sentuhan Rakyat’, a sales programme, from Jan 27 to June.
During the sales programme, people will get to purchase items lower than the retail price.
He said the first event on Jan 27 is expected to be held in Matang/ Lundu area.
“It may not be a whole day sale, maybe a happy hour sale during certain time where shoppers can buy items like fresh chicken at very cheap price,” he said.