Submit memo for AIS subsidy, fishermen told
SANDAKAN: Fishermen associations in the state are advised to submit their memorandum to apply for subsidy to install the Automated Identification System (AIS) on fishing boats to the government.
Commander of Eastern Sabah Security Command (ESSCom), DCP Datuk Hazani Ghazali, said he had asked the chairmen of fishermen associations to send the memorandum to him so he could submit it to the higher authority.
In previous years, fishing boats operating in the east coast of Sabah were advised to install the AIS for the safety of the boats and crew while fishing in open sea.
“The ESSCom requires this AIS to be installed in order to facilitate fishing boats to be monitored in the event of an emergency, facing untoward incident such as abduction.
“The installation of AIS is important to keep boats and crew safe as enforcement will be able to monitor thus sending assistance in time of the fishermen’s need,” he said.
Hazani was speaking to the media after attending the ESSCom dialogue session with Sandakan fisheries entrepreneurs yesterday.
Also present were Chief Executive Officer of ESSCom, Noor Alam Khan Abdul Wahid Khan, Sandakan District Police Chief ACP Mohd Azhar Hamin, LDP Vice Chairman Datuk Lim Ming Ho and chairmen of Sandakan Fishermen Associations.
There are about 185 fishing boats in Sandakan however, only 33 of them had installed AIS while 69 other boats had installed the In Vessel Monitoring System (IVMS).
Meanwhile, Hazani said all complaints that had been voiced out during the dialogue session in Sandakan would be thoroughly reviewed by his authority.
Hazani also hopes that fishermen and all maritime communities along the east coast of Sabah continue to be the eyes and ears for the enforcement and not hesitate to report any information related to any crimes happening in their areas.