Melaka offers PERKESO coverage and fish finders to registered fishermen, enhancing welfare and boosting catch efficiency.
JASIN: The Melaka government has introduced several new initiatives to enhance the welfare and productivity of fishermen in the state, including providing Social Security Organisation (PERKESO) coverage and fish finders to all registered fishermen.
Chief Minister Datuk Seri Ab Rauf Yusoh said the initiatives were announced during the fifth leg of the ‘Jelajah Ketua Menteri Sayang Rakyat’ tour in the Merlimau state constituency, which enables the state government to engage directly with grassroots communities and better understand their needs.
“We do not want to remain seated comfortably in our offices. Instead, together with members of the State Executive Council (Exco), we go to the ground to see firsthand the people’s needs and determine the assistance that can be provided.
“Today, we met with the fishing community and made several important decisions, including ensuring that all registered fishermen receive PERKESO coverage and are equipped with fish finders to help increase their catch,” he said at the event held at the Kuala Sempang Jetty here today.
During the event, 107 registered fishermen each received RM200 under the ‘Bantuan Jaring Nelayan’ scheme, involving a total allocation of RM21,400.
The state government also distributed 360 kilogrammes of fish, valued at RM3,600, to the public, with each person receiving about 1.5 kg.
Meanwhile, fisherman Amirul Shah Fuad Shah, 35, from Kuala Merlimau, welcomed the initiative, saying fish finders would enable fishermen to locate schools of fish more accurately and improve the efficiency of their fishing operations.
“With a fish finder, fishermen can identify areas with high fish concentrations and cast their nets directly there. Previously, we relied solely on experience and estimation.
“A fish finder costs between RM1,000 and RM2,000 if purchased privately, so this assistance is truly meaningful,” said Amirul, who has been a fisherman for more than 20 years.
He also described the government’s move to provide PERKESO coverage for all registered fishermen as a positive step, saying it would offer greater social protection to those exposed to occupational risks while working at sea.
Kampung Sempang Fishermen’s Association chairman Md Khalil Md Jadi, 67, said the PERKESO coverage represented meaningful recognition of the fishing community, many of whom are elderly and depend entirely on the sea for their livelihood.
He added that introducing fish finders reflected the state’s efforts to modernise the traditional fishing sector, where fishermen had long depended solely on experience to locate fishing grounds.
With this technology, finding fish becomes much easier, and we hope it will help increase fishermen’s incomes.
“We are deeply grateful to the Chief Minister and the state government for listening to our needs and introducing various initiatives to improve the welfare of the fishing community,” he said.
