ALOR STAR: More than 50,000 fishermen in the country are uninsured and have yet to obtain fisherman's card with the Malaysia Fisheries Development Authority (LKIM).
According to LKIM director-general Mohd Sallehhuddin Hassan, to date, there are more than 100,000 fishermen in the country but only half of them have obtained the fisherman's card,
which will automatically enable them to be covered under the Fishermen Welfare Insurance.
“Every fisherman needs to obtain their licences first before they can go out to sea for fishing. They need to apply for the licence with the Fisheries Department. Registration is free.
“Once they have obtained their licence, they need to refer to the LKIM and bring along the licence to register for the Fishermen Welfare Insurance,” he said in a press conference today after handing over food essentials to three fishermen whose boat capsized near Kuala Jerlun on Sunday.
Sallehhuddin stressed that these advantages could only be experienced once the fishermen have obtained their official licence with the Fisheries Department and applied for the insurance with LKIM.