GEORGE TOWN: Coastal fishermen who have waited years for fishing licences should be given priority under the government's plan to issue 3,000 more special boat licences, says a fishermen's group.
Persatuan Pendidikan dan Kebajikan Jaringan Nelayan Pantai Malaysia (Jaring) made the call following the Budget 2027 announcement that the number of special boat licence holders would be increased from 17,000 to 20,000, with RM30mil allocated for the initiative.
Jaring secretary-general Azrul Faizal Mohamed estimated that about one-third of fishermen at each fishing jetty did not have licences.
He said priority should be given to those who depended on fishing for their livelihood and had been waiting years for licences.
He added that applicants' records and fishing activities should be checked to ensure the licences went to genuine fishermen who needed them.
"Clear rules, simpler applications and proper checks are needed to ensure deserving fishermen can fish legally," he said in a statement on Sunday (Oct 11).
Under Budget 2027, eligible fishermen will continue to receive subsidised diesel at RM1.65 per litre.
The Government has also allocated RM178mil for assistance, including catch incentives and monthly living allowances of up to RM300.
Meanwhile, Penang Fish Farmers Association chairman Khor Gin Tiam called for the RM40mil financing scheme for fish farming through Agrobank to be extended to other banks.
He said this would make it easier for fish farmers to obtain financing, particularly from banks they already dealt with.
The funds, he said, could help farmers meet operating costs, improve facilities and increase production.
Pertubuhan Persaudaraan Pesawah Malaysia (PeSAWAH), however, expressed disappointment that the RM2.62bil allocation for padi farmers remained unchanged despite production costs reportedly rising by 50%.
Its chairman Abdul Rashid Yob said farmers were also still unable to obtain subsidised diesel under the Subsidised Diesel Control System (SKDS).
He said payments for harvesting subsidies for 2025 and 2026 were still outstanding.
"Although we welcome the increase in harvesting subsidies from RM50 to RM100, there are still questions over the delay in putting it into effect," he said.
Abdul Rashid said farmers had also yet to receive the additional RM100 per hectare for pesticides announced under Budget 2026, which raised the assistance from RM200 to RM300.
He said the government had not taken up PeSAWAH's proposal for an e-wallet or e-Sawah system that would allow farmers to choose their own farming supplies.
He urged the Government to resolve the delays and ensure that promised assistance reached farmers.
