PONTIAN: Local fishermen in southern Johor have welcomed the RM1,000 special aid by the state government, saying the money could lift some burden off their daily expenses.
South Johor Fishermen’s Association chairman Azli Mohamad Aziz said although the amount was lower than the previous “wang ehsan” (compassionate payment) of RM2,000, they thanked the state government for continuing the cash aid.
“This aid from the state government is for all active fishermen in southern Johor, who are directly affected by the development in the area,” he told the New Straits Times.
Some fishermen said they can now breathe a sigh of relief, even if it was only a temporary relief.
Mohamad Saman, 70, said he would use the cash aid to buy fishing nets, which could last him up to two months.
Mohamad, or better known to his peers as Pak Khalid, stopped going to school after finishing primary school at 12, and has been fishing ever since.
“Even though the amount is not big, it can help with the expenses to buy fishing equipment,” he said when met at the Pengkalan Nelayan Parit Penghulu Jetty in Serkat, near here.
Another fisherman, Jamaluddin Mohamad, however, wanted the mentri besar to clarify whether the payment would be made in instalments or by zones.
“Usually, the aid would be paid in full but by zones. For example, Gelang Patah fishermen will be paid first, followed by Pasir Gudang and then Pontian, never in three instalments,” he said.
Yesterday, Johor Mentri Besar Datuk Dr Sahruddin Jamal announced the RM1.5 million allocations for fishermen in southern Johor after a state exco meeting in Iskandar Puteri, yesterday.
He said the special aid would be paid directly to the fishermen in three phases, starting next week. He dismissed claims that this special payment was an ‘election goodie’.
A total of 1,513 fishermen will benefit from the aid. From the total, 432 are in Gelang Patah, 537 in Pasir Gudang and Johor Bahru, and 544 in Pontian and Tanjung Piai.