Dato’ Sri Haji Tajuddin Abdul Rahman, Deputy Minister for Agriculture and Agro-based Industry, presented living allowances to 424 inshore fishermen from all over Perak during a ceremony held at TAJ International College (TIC).
The fishermen received RM1200 each as allowance for the months of January till June 2015 at RM200 per month, in accordance with the provision made in Budget 2015.
Present at the ceremony were Datuk Haji Ismail bin Abu Hassan, the Director General of the Fisheries Department, Dato’ Haji Azini bin Mohd Shahid, the Deputy Secretary General (Development) Ministry of Agriculture and Agro-based Industry and Dr Bah Piyan Tan, the Director of Perak Fisheries Department.
“Besides the allowance, the ministry provides the fishermen with various aids such as housing. We also provide loans via Agrobank and National Entrepreneurial Group Economic Fund (Tekun) for them to buy fishery tools and boats,” said the deputy minister during the press conference. Tajuddin highlighted the manipulation by middlemen and its effects on the unfortunate fishermen.
“They should venture into downstream industries such as the production of dried fish, fishcakes and fish balls in order to augment their income. For that, the ministry provides basic training on food technology and production through the Malaysian Agricultural Research and Development Institute (Mardi) and National Agricultural Training Council,” he added.
Mei Kuan
