Fishermen selling subsidised fuel to be punished

Fishermen in Melaka found selling subsidised fuel and petrol to third parties will have their permits revoked from next year, warns state Agriculture, Entrepreneur Development and Agro-based committee chairman Norhizam Hassan Baktee.

The warning was issued after he received information that some fishermen were selling the subsidised fuels without even going out to sea.

Norhizam said he knows who these fishermen are and is giving them the last chance to stop their activity or face the consequences.

“We have received tip-offs on such activity and for now, we are giving a grace period of three months to these fishermen to repent before we go ahead revoking permits issued by the State Fishery Department,” he said in an interview yesterday.

Norhizam also revealed that he has been alerted on the existence of “barter trade” where local fishermen sold the subsidised fuels in exchange for exotic fishes from their foreign counterparts.

Norhizam said the state government will continue to assist more than 1,000 fishermen in the state financially to help them cope with their burdens.

He said the livelihood of fishermen affected by reclamation works in the state will also be given special attention by the state government.

Norhizam said he has proposed the fishermen associations to set up a cooperative to help elevate their socio-economic status.