BUKIT GANTANG:The Malaysian Fisheries Development Authority (LKIM) has allocated a grant of RM1 million via the Natural Disaster Assistance Scheme to help fishermen affected by floods throughout the country now.

LKIM chairman Datuk Syed Abu Hussin Hafiz Syed Abdul Fasal said the assistance involved aid for damaged boats, equipment and houses due to natural disaster but the authority has not received the report on the number of fishermen involved.

He said LKIM officers and fishermen organisations in each state are conducting an exercise to assist registered fishermen and to evaluate their losses.

He explained that via the scheme eligible fishermen would be receiving aid up to RM10,000 if their boats were damaged, net and other equipment (RM3,000), house (RM10,000) and other home appliances (RM1,000).

“Apart from that, RM20,000 worth of food supply and cleaning equipment as well as RM20,000 of basic necessities would also be considered for eligible fishermen,” he was speaking at a media conference after the presentation of Fishermen Natural Disaster and Welfare Assistance Scheme aid at Matang Fishermen Association here yesterday.

At the ceremony, 22 fishermen received between RM300 to RM1,000 each involving an allocation of RM11,400 after their houses in Kampung Matang Gelugor, Matang and Kuala Sepetang were inundated recently.

Syed Abu Hussin who is also Bukit Gantang MP said the authority believed not many fishermen were affected by floods in the East Coast as most of the areas hit were not inhabited by fishermen.

In another development, Syed Abu Hussin said even with the east coast affected by floods, the supply of fish is adequate.

"The landing of fish is normal and we have enough supply. Fish landing is 60 per cent from the sea, 20 per cent is from aquaculture and 20 per cent imported.

Earlier in his speech, Syed Hussin said LKIM allocated RM1.066 million to repair houses of fishermen under a special programme involving 82 houses last year.

"Thirty houses were also rebuilt last year costing RM1.6 million," he said.

-- BERNAMA