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26th November, 2008
KOTA KINABALU: The Sabah United Fisheries & Fishing Boat Association has opposed the decision by the Ministry of Agriculture & Agro-Based Industry to allow the Sabah Fishermen Association (Pengasah) to take over the wholesale of subsidised e-diesel in the state starting in January 2009.
Its chairman, Arsani Arsat, said the association wanted Ko-Nelayan, a state agency, to continue to distribute e-diesel.
“By right, the Malaysian Fisheries Development Board (LKIM) should consider the views of the members of the association before approving the proposal because we are the main users of the diesel.
“Ko-Nelayan has done a good job in the distribution of e-diesel for close to two years and we fear that if Pengasah were to take over various problems may crop up and these may affect the fishery industry in the state,” he told Bernama here yesterday.
He appealed to the ministry to reconsider the decision which was unfair to be implemented now.
“Ko-Nelayan has not faced a big problem in handling the distribution of e-diesel. There are small problems initially but after two years they would have been resolved.
“Thus there is no pressing need to allow Pengasah to take over the function,” he said.
Arsani said this when commenting on Sunday’s statement by LKIM chairman, Datuk Abdul Rahim Ismail, who had said that the ministry approved Pengasah’s proposal to serve the interests of fishermen who were members of Regional Fishermen Associations (PNK).
Rahim then urged the 14 PKNs in Sabah to be affiliated members of Pengasah so that they could enjoy the benefits and incentives.
He said about 9.8 million litres of subsidised diesel would be allocated for Pengasah to handle Sabah fishermen.
Rahim said initially, the wholesale of the diesel would be carried out in Sandakan and Tawau and by June 2009, all areas in Sabah would be fully covered by Pengasah.
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