Association seeks win-win deal with Ko-Nelayan
KOTA KINABALU: The Sabah Fishermen Association (Pengasah) has called on the Sabah Fisheries and Fishermen Development Cooperative (KoNelayan) to honour the decision made in the recent Fuel Subsidy and Cost of Living Allowance (ESH) Taskforce Meeting.
In the meeting chaired by the Fisheries Development Authority of Malaysia (LKIM) on October 12, it was decided that Ko-Nelayan should act as the wholesaler of subsidized diesel whereas the Area Fishermen Associations (PNKs) should act as the retailers of the fuel.
In light of this, Pengasah chairman Datuk Arsit Sedi insisted that Ko-Nelayan and the PNKs should cooperate to establish a ‘win-win situation’ between the two.
“There is nothing that could not be solved in this negotiation. What is important is for us to honour what has been decided by the taskforce/government - one that comprises various agencies.
“We are asking for a win-win situation – where Ko-Nelayan will get income and we the PNKs will also get income.
“So if a problem arises…we (KoNelayan and PNK) can discuss together to find a solution. What is important is for us to ensure that the welfare and the supply of fuel to these fishermen will not be ignored,” Arsit said at a press conference yesterday.
When asked whether Pengasah would be meeting with KoNelayan to discuss the matter, Arsit said they would have to seek advice from the taskforce first before doing so.
He explained that the taskforce was chaired by the LKIM and it included committee members from the Ministry of Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs (KPDNKK), Customs, the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (APMM), Sabah Ports and Harbours Department (JPDS), Fishery Department, the Marine Department the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Industry as well as Ko-Nelayan itself.
He said Pengasah should be also included in the taskforce.
On October 18, it was reported that Ko-Nelayan would be taking over nine jetties (which have ceased to operate) from the PNKs with immediate effect.
Ko-Nelayan chairman Awang Ahmad Sah Datuk Sahari said the closure of the jetties had directly disabled the delivery of subsidized diesel to fishermen, with some having to travel two to three hours to another jetty to obtain fuel.
This decision by Ko-Nelayan has caused dissatisfaction among the PNK chairmen in Sabah. They were unhappy with the reasons given by Ko-Nelayan.
The affected jetties are KoNelayan Jetty at Kuala Penyu, Fordeco Jetty and Lubok Poring Jetty at Sepanggar in Kota Kinabalu; Harmoni Tenang Bandar Ramai-Ramai and Sabah Sea Produce Sdn Bhd Jetty in Sandakan; Visikurnia Sdn Bhd Jetty, Sri Langgas Kg Kunak Jaya Jetty, Pasir Putih Jetty and PNK Semporna Jetty in Tawau. Some of the jetties have been closed for more than a year.
Of the nine jetties, Awang Ahmad said Ko-Nelayan would reopen the Kuala Penyu and Lobok Poring jetties at the earliest by November 1 this year, adding that the cooperative was also repairing the jetty in Tambisan for it to reopen by November or December.
Earlier in yesterday’s press conference, several of the Pengasah committee members from the various districts in Sabah had voiced some of the issues that Sabah’s fishermen are currently facing.
Many of the fishermen from the East Coast have lost their income due to the Eastern Sabah Security Command (Esscom) curfew.
Arsit reckoned that if the welfare of these fishermen were to be ignored, they might stop fishing and this would inadvertently affect the government as well as the people.