OYA: The 2020 State Budget to be tabled next month will also take care of the plight of fishermen whose monthly living allowance had been terminated by the federal government.
Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg announced that he would provide allocation to assist fishermen in order to lessen their burden.
According to him, the living allowance was meant to assist fishermen during the rainy season when they could not go out fishing because of big waves.
“Through revenue re-engineering, the government has its own way to source for funds to assist fishermen so that their flow of income would not dry up drastically,” he said when officiating at the laying of reef balls in Igan-Mukah waters at Pekan Sabtu here yesterday.
He added that there was enough fund to assist local fishermen, but he did not elaborate the details of the living allowance as it would be included in the 2020 budget.
On the reef-ball event, Abang Johari said the artificial reefs are not only breeding grounds for fish and other marine life; they help increase the fish population.
Welfare, Community Wellbeing, Women, Family and Childhood Development Minister Datuk Seri Fatimah Abdullah, who also spoke at the event, brought the three proposals to the attention of the chief minister.
Town Planning, Land Administraion and Environment Assistant Minister Datu Len Talif Salleh, Mukah MP Datuk Hanifah Hajar Taib, Daro Assemblymen Shafie Ahmad and Mukah Division Resident Hamdiah Bakir also attended the event.
