APPEALING FOR THEIR SURVIVAL… Simon (seated third from right) posing together with some of his committee members and ordinary members, during the news conference held at the SAFMA jetty yesterday
KOTA KINABALU: The KK Fishing Boats’ Owners Association (KKFBOA) has called on both the Federal and State governments to give special attention to the plights of its members, in the wake of escalating inflation triggered by the latest round of fuel price increase.
Speaking to reporters at a news conference here yesterday, KKFBA Chairman Simon Hong stressed that such was only right in view of the significant role played by the industry, as one of the main providers of food item to the general population.
He especially urged the authorities concerned to expedite the implementation of the various fuel rebates announced by the government on June 5, including payment of RM200 monthly to every owner and crew of Malaysian-owned vessels registered with the Fisheries Department.
It also wants speedy payment of incentives to vessel owners at the rate of 10sen per kg of fish landed by approved fishing vessels at fish landing centres in the country.
He lamented that since the fuel price hike, its members’ operations had been severely affected as their monthly expenses had gone up significantly.
“Besides having to fork out additional money to the sum of RM10,000 and more every month, now just to cover for the difference in our fuel consumption, prices of almost every thing too has gone up, from rice for our crew members to spare parts for the fishing boats and fishing appliances like fishing net. The prices have gone up between 30 to 40 per cent,??? he elaborated.
He also highlighted that slow supply of subsidised fuel by Petronas too had adversely affected their operations, to the extent that they had to reduce their fishing trips from four times per month to three times now.
“All these had significantly affected our incomes and profit margins,??? he said.
Besides this, he also claimed that their monthly quota for the subsidised fuel had been reduced from 30,000 litres in 2006 to 20,000 litres now.
A fishing trawler with a 500 horse power engine requires between 28,000 to 30,000 litres of fuel per month.
“In fact the subsidised fuel quota for the whole of Sabah had been reduced by 10 per cent since beginning of this month,??? he disclosed.
Hong thus urged the authorities concerned to start restricting fishing trawlers from outside Kota Kinabalu to come in, so as not to usurp up the limited subsidised fuel reserved for the local fishermen.
He noted that the number of fishing trawlers in Kota Kinabalu had increased from 140 to 160 in the last one year.
Furthermore, the existing SAFMA jetty is also too small and has become overcrowded nowadays.
“It can only allow for three trawlers to unload the catch in a day. The rest will have to unload their catch by hoping from one trawler to another trawler, which is rather laborious,??? he noted.
He thus hoped the State government could consider upgrading the existing jetty.
Apart from this, he also urged the authorities concerned to simplify and expedite the annual renewal of the “eNelayan D’kad??? for them to enjoy the subsidised fuel, which he disclosed took between 2 weeks and one month to process.
KOTA KINABALU: The KK Fishing Boats’ Owners Association (KKFBOA) has called on both the Federal and State governments to give special attention to the plights of its members, in the wake of escalating inflation triggered by the latest round of fuel price increase.
Speaking to reporters at a news conference here yesterday, KKFBA Chairman Simon Hong stressed that such was only right in view of the significant role played by the industry, as one of the main providers of food item to the general population.
He especially urged the authorities concerned to expedite the implementation of the various fuel rebates announced by the government on June 5, including payment of RM200 monthly to every owner and crew of Malaysian-owned vessels registered with the Fisheries Department.
It also wants speedy payment of incentives to vessel owners at the rate of 10sen per kg of fish landed by approved fishing vessels at fish landing centres in the country.
He lamented that since the fuel price hike, its members’ operations had been severely affected as their monthly expenses had gone up significantly.
“Besides having to fork out additional money to the sum of RM10,000 and more every month, now just to cover for the difference in our fuel consumption, prices of almost every thing too has gone up, from rice for our crew members to spare parts for the fishing boats and fishing appliances like fishing net. The prices have gone up between 30 to 40 per cent,??? he elaborated.
He also highlighted that slow supply of subsidised fuel by Petronas too had adversely affected their operations, to the extent that they had to reduce their fishing trips from four times per month to three times now.
“All these had significantly affected our incomes and profit margins,??? he said.
Besides this, he also claimed that their monthly quota for the subsidised fuel had been reduced from 30,000 litres in 2006 to 20,000 litres now.
A fishing trawler with a 500 horse power engine requires between 28,000 to 30,000 litres of fuel per month.
“In fact the subsidised fuel quota for the whole of Sabah had been reduced by 10 per cent since beginning of this month,??? he disclosed.
Hong thus urged the authorities concerned to start restricting fishing trawlers from outside Kota Kinabalu to come in, so as not to usurp up the limited subsidised fuel reserved for the local fishermen.
He noted that the number of fishing trawlers in Kota Kinabalu had increased from 140 to 160 in the last one year.
Furthermore, the existing SAFMA jetty is also too small and has become overcrowded nowadays.
“It can only allow for three trawlers to unload the catch in a day. The rest will have to unload their catch by hoping from one trawler to another trawler, which is rather laborious,??? he noted.
He thus hoped the State government could consider upgrading the existing jetty.
Apart from this, he also urged the authorities concerned to simplify and expedite the annual renewal of the “eNelayan D’kad??? for them to enjoy the subsidised fuel, which he disclosed took between 2 weeks and one month to process.