'Penang fishermen neglected by state govt'

BUTTERWORTH: The welfare of fishermen in Penang has been neglected by the state government, according to Malaysian Fisheries Development Authority (LKIM) chairman Datuk Irmohizam Ibrahim.
He said many fishermen in Permatang Pauh were facing problems such as lack of jetties, and erosion at their villages as a result of development activities, and could not afford to own homes.
"The federal government does have plans to assist the fishermen but is unable to proceed smoothly because the state government has imposed unreasonable conditions.
"The state government should just allow the federal government through LKIM to build homes for the fishermen if it really cares," he told Bernama after meeting fishermen association representatives at Seberang Jaya here today.
Irmohizam, who is also an Umno supreme council member, said the goverment had allocated RM250million this year to enhance the local fishermen's wellbeing.
"But we face difficulty in getting a suitable site for the fishermen's housing project because every process required approval from the state government," he said.
He hoped voters among the fishermen community would give the Barisan Nasional candidate in the Permatang Pauh parliamentary by-election, the opportunity to be their representative and to assist them.