Govt proposes to continue with fishermen's subsistence allowance

BATU PAHAT: The government will be continuing with the fishermen's subsistence allowance (ESH) to ease the burden of fishermen, especially during the monsoon season.
The method of payment however may change from cash to using smart cards or coupons to purchase daily necessities.
Agriculture and Agro-based Industry Minister Datuk Salahuddin Ayub said payment using these methods would start next year after a whitening process was completed.
He said the usage of smart cards or coupons for about 40,000 fishermen, was aimed at plugging leakages among fishermen themselves.
"Before this, we found that when the allowance was provided in cash, some money was not used for the intended purpose and was used to buy other things, thus defeating the objective of aiding fishermen to lighten their burden," he said.
He was speaking to reporters after launching the ministry's Meet Customer Day at Batu Pahat, here today.
Salahuddin said before this, fishermen were paid RM300 a month during the monsoon season and the government would be studying the quantum of allowance as well. — Bernama