PONTIAN: If there is one thing the fishermen of the Parit Penghulu fishermen jetty in Mukim Serkat need, it is an organised fishermen’s village.
At the moment, the fishermen here are either renting a comfortable house or can afford only small huts as their temporary shelter.
With unpredictable earnings, they rely on good weather to go out to the sea.
Nevertheless, that does not guarantee them a big catch and this situation has affected their wellbeing.
Fisherman Jamaluddin Mohamad said many fishermen were in need of an organised fishermen’s village to ensure a better quality of life.
“The one thing the fishermen here need would be an organised fishermen’s village,” he told the New Straits Times when met on Wednesday.
He said many were renting homes for their families.
“Apart from rental, we also have to pay for petrol, food for the family, phone bills, fishing nets, (engine) oil for the boat, school allowance for the children and school fees.
“We are not making hundreds of ringgit a day.
“Sometimes, we get only RM30 worth of prawns after spending RM35 on petrol for the boat.”
Jamaluddin said the Johor government could emulate the Kuala Kurau fishing village in Perak, which was better organised and had even become a tourist attraction.
He said a request was made to the Pontian Land Office in 2013, but their proposal went unheeded.
“What should actually be included in the 12th Malaysia Plan for fishermen is an organised fishing village.
“Since 2013, land around here was sold and developed.
“Right now, there is only one piece of land left.
“I ask the state government to please start listening to us and prioritise what’s important first.”
In July, the Economic Affairs Ministry said the 12th Malaysia Plan, which would cover the period from 2020 to 2025, would be premised on the shared prosperity initiative.