LKIM Ensures Fair Access To Fish-Landing Jetties For All Fishermen - Mohamad Sabu

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 19 (Bernama) -- The Fisheries Development Authority of Malaysia (LKIM) does not allow any party to monopolise or control fish-landing jetty facilities to ensure fair access for all fishermen, including small-scale operators.

Minister of Agriculture and Food Security Datuk Seri Mohamad Sabu said continuous monitoring is carried out through cooperation between state LKIM offices, local fishermen’s associations and local authorities to detect and act on any complaints, including issues involving private vessels or encroachment that may pressure small operators.

“At present, the existing monitoring mechanism is considered practical and quick to implement. LKIM does not permit any party to monopolise fish-landing jetty facilities, such as leasing them to private entities,” he said during the oral question-and-answer session in the Dewan Rakyat today.

He said this in reply to Datuk Seri Dr Wee Jeck Seng (BN–Tanjung Piai), who asked about measures to ensure transparent and inclusive management of LKIM jetties so they are not dominated by particular groups and continue to benefit small fishermen and local enterprises.

Mohamad said LKIM manages 48 fisheries complexes and ports nationwide, including four in Johor, as well as 505 traditional fish-landing jetties operated by fishermen’s associations or local committees.

In a separate development, the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security (KPKM) plans to expand closed, high-technology pig-farming systems to raise the self-sufficiency rate (SSR) of pork to 90 per cent by 2030.

Mohamad said the effort is supported by the Department of Veterinary Services (DVS) through various initiatives, including technical assistance and structural transformation of the sector.

DVS also provides ongoing technical advisory services covering farm management, compliance with animal health standards and biosecurity practices to ensure more modern farming systems with lower disease risks.

In addition, the Ministry of Finance has widened the scope of agricultural automation tax incentives — including the Accelerated Capital Allowance (ACA) and income tax exemptions for pig farmers,  to encourage the shift from open farms to closed systems from Jan 1, 2023 to Dec 31, 2027.

He was replying to Cha Kee Chin (PH–Rasah), who asked about the government’s plans to implement closed and high-technology pig-farming systems in view of the declining SSR.

-- BERNAMA