LKIM: No Disruption In Diesel Supply For Fishermen

GEORGE TOWN, April 4 (Bernama) -- The supply of diesel to fishermen nationwide remains stable, with government subsidies maintained to support the continuity of the fisheries sector, said the Fisheries Development Authority of Malaysia (LKIM).

LKIM chairman Muhammad Faiz Fadzil said that, so far, fishermen had not experienced any diesel shortages and that the government was still maintaining its subsidy mechanism.

“There has been no disruption in supply, with diesel available and the subsidy maintained as before. The only concerns raised are requests for additional quotas, which are still under review because they involve extra government costs.

“The government spends hundreds of millions of ringgit every year on fuel subsidies for fishermen, with the prices of diesel and petrol under the subsidy scheme remaining well below retail prices at petrol stations,” he said when met at the Penang Amanah Open House in Teluk Kumbar near here today.

Muhammad Faiz, who is the Amanah secretary-general said this in response to fishermen’s complaints about disruptions in diesel supply, which had caused some of them to be unable to go to sea, resulting in a shortage of fish supplies.

He said that about 70 million litres of diesel are allocated each month for more than 40,000 fishing vessels nationwide, covering zones A, B, and C.

Muhammad Faiz said that the subsidy assistance was provided to help the target group rather than cover the entire operating costs of fishermen, adding that diesel was purchased at a subsidised rate of around RM1.65 per litre, well below the market price.

“Fishermen who use petrol are also entitled to about 50 litres per day at a subsidised rate of RM1.56 per litre,” he said.

Commenting on the issue of fish prices, Muhammad Faiz said that the country’s current supply of marine products was sufficient and had not been affected, particularly as Malaysia was currently in the peak fishing season.

He said that Malaysia recorded a fish self-sufficiency rate (SSR) of around 90 per cent, with only about 10 per cent of the supply imported to meet domestic demand.

Meanwhile, Muhammad Faiz said that LKIM was exploring the best methods to improve subsidy distribution, including addressing the needs of fishermen in the Zone C2 category, who had previously not received subsidies.

--BERNAMA