454 fishermen in Serkat receive RM2,000 in compassionate aid

PONTIAN: Over 450 fishermen in the mukim (sub-district) of Serkat, near Tanjung Piai, here, today received "wang ehsan" or compassionate payment of RM2,000 each.
This is to ease their plight after losing their income following the construction of a 1.5km wave breaker in the area's waters which has hampered their going out to sea, thus affecting their livelihood.
For these 454 fishermen, the RM2,000 one-off payment is proof of the government's concern for their welfare.
One of the "wang ehsan" recipients, Abu Bakar Abdullah, 50, said the cash aid could, to some extent, lessen the affected families' financial burden from the rising cost of living in meeting their daily needs.
"I am grateful for this payment as I can buy groceries, support my children's schooling and repair my boat," said the father of two after receiving the aid at the Mukim Serkat Penghulu Complex, here.
Abu Bakar, who has been a fisherman for almost 20 years, hoped the government would continue to assist fishermen in view of their unstable income.
Handing over the "wang ehsan" to the recipients was secretary-general of the Agriculture and Agro-based Industry Ministry, Datuk Seri Dr Ismail Bakar. Also present was Fisheries Department director-general, Datuk Munir Mohd Nawi.
Another fisherman Nazaruddin Abdul Wahid , 43, said he was so grateful for the compassionate payment as it showed that the government understood and cared for their hardship.
"The government has never neglected us fishermen but in fact, has always assisted us. I am grateful for this," he added.
Meanwhile, Azlina Ahmad Ghani, 34, said although her fisherman father had died, the government still gave "wang ehsan" to her, an only child of the deceased.
Earlier, Ismail said the ministry, through the Fisheries Development Authority of Malaysia (LKIM) and Fisheries Department, had drawn up an alternative plan for local fishermen to help raise their income.
He said among the initiatives taken was providing them assistance to venture into agro-tourism, entrepreneurship and marketing, and agro-based and skills industries.
At the event, Ismail also announced an allocation of RM200,000 for upgrading of the jetty at Kukup. — Bernama