(From left) Tong, Naiemah, Fathanah, Khairunnisa, Azizul and Fisheries Development Authority of Malaysia (LKIM) economic affairs officer Muhammad Hafil Azman at the cheque presentation in Kampung Kong Kong Laut.
FISHERMAN Abdul Latif Mahmud’s family were bereft when he went missing while testing his gear at a river on March 6.
On that fateful day, Abdul Latif left his home in Kampung Kong Kong Laut, Pasir Gudang, to place bait on his new longline, according to his eldest daughter, Khairunnisa, 31.
“His longline fishing gear was damaged after being run over by a boat, so he requested a new one from the fishing association.
“While waiting for the replacement, he made a new one and wanted to test it at Sungai Nyor,” she said.
Khairunnisa, who lives in Perak, said her father, who was 62 years old, had called her two days before he went missing.
“He called because he wanted to speak with my children, and he also told them that he was going to test his new fishing gear,” she said, adding that her father would send them dried seafood every month.
Abdul Latif’s second daughter, Fathanah, 22, said he went out as usual on that day but left behind his phone and wallet.
His family began to worry when he did not return home and they lodged a police report the next morning.
Abdul Latif’s body was found by a fisherman from Tanjung Langsat at noon on March 8, and he was believed to have drowned.
The grieving family is receiving financial aid from the Social Security Organisation (Socso).
Johor Socso director Tong Sing Chuang, who visited the family to hand over a cheque, said Abdul Latif had been a contributor and as such, his dependants were eligible to receive benefits.
“The victim was a contributor under the Self-Employment Social Security Scheme (SKSPS), whereby RM46 was deducted annually from his earnings.
“Since his youngest child, Naiemah, 20, is still under 21, the family will be able to benefit from the survivors’ pension of RM837 every month.
“The siblings are also eligible to receive an invalidity pension of RM135 a month since their late mother Wan Zaharah Wan Ali was also a contributor,” said Tong.
Wan Zaharah had been working at a factory in Pasir Gudang and died last year from health complications.
Meanwhile, Tong also said 11,032 housewives in Johor had registered under the Housewives’ Social Security Scheme (SKSSR), which began on Dec 1, 2022.
The scheme covers housewives aged 55 and below, and defines “housewife” as one who manages households either full-time or part-time, married or single.
“With only a lump sum of RM120 over a period of 12 months, paid in advance, the housewife under SKSSR will receive various assistance such as permanent disability and medical benefits, a morbidity allowance, physical rehabilitation or dialysis facilities, a survivor pension and funeral benefits,” said Tong.
Tiram assemblyman Azizul Bachok, who was present, said SKSPS and SKSSR initiatives were introduced to help the people.
