The Malaysian Fisheries Development Authority (LKIM) has allocated a grant of RM1mil via the Natural Disaster Assistance Scheme to help fishermen affected by the floods throughout the country.
LKIM chairman Datuk Syed Abu Hussin Hafiz Syed Abdul Fasal said the assistance covered aid for damaged boats, equipment and houses, but added that the authority had not received the report on the number of fishermen involved.
He said LKIM officers and fishermen organisations in each state were conducting an exercise to assist registered fishermen to evaluate their losses.
He said eligible fishermen would receive aid of up to RM10,000 under the scheme if their boats were damaged, RM3,000 for damage to nets and other equipment, up to RM10,000 for homes and RM1,000 to cover home appliances.
“Besides that, RM20,000 worth of food supplies and cleaning equipment, as well as RM20,000 of basic necessities, will also be considered for eligible fishermen, ” he told a media conference after the presentation of the Fishermen Natural Disaster and Welfare Assistance Scheme to the Matang Fishermen Association here yesterday.
At the ceremony, 22 fishermen received RM300 to RM1,000 each from an allocation of RM11,400 after their houses in Kampung Matang Gelugor, Matang and Kuala Sepetang were inundated recently.
Syed Abu Hussin, who is also Bukit Gantang MP, said the authority believed that not many fishermen were affected by floods in the east coast as most of the areas hit were not inhabited by fishermen.
He said the supply of fish was adequate even in the face of floods.
“The landing of fish is normal and we have enough supply. About 60% of the fish landed here comes from the sea, 20% from aquaculture and 20% imported, ” he added.