LKIM Ready To Help Fishermen Affected By Coastal Erosion

KUALA NERUS, Jan 19 (Bernama) -- The Malaysian Fisheries Development Authority (LKIM) is ready to assist fishermen whose homes are damaged by coastal erosion nationwide, including those in Terengganu.

LKIM chairman Muhammad Faiz Fadzil said the government had allocated RM10 million under the Fishermen’s Special Housing Project (PKPN) to repair or rebuild dilapidated or damaged fishermen’s houses.

“We will assess houses affected or damaged (including by coastal erosion) and provide allocations to those eligible.

“Whether the damage is due to coastal erosion or other causes is not the issue; we will first evaluate the extent of damage and their eligibility,” he said after officiating at the LKIM-Petronas Madani Fishermen's Children Back-to-School Programme here today.

Muhammad Faiz added that LKIM would also work with the Department of Irrigation and Drainage (DID) to explore the implementation of several mitigation projects to address the worsening coastal erosion problem.

He urged state governments to pay serious attention to coastal erosion issues to ensure the safety and well-being of communities, particularly fishermen along the coast.

Earlier, the LKIM-Petronas Madani Fishermen's Children Back-to-School Programme saw 100 primary and secondary school students from fishermen families in Kuala Nerus receiving schooling essentials and cash assistance.

Muhammad Faiz said the contribution, aimed at preparing for the new school term starting in February, was a collaboration between LKIM, Petroliam Nasional Berhad (Petronas), and the Yayasan Dakwah Islamiah Malaysia (Yadim).

-- BERNAMA