Depleting subsidised diesel stocks from the Malaysian Fisheries Development Authority (LKIM) has caused 460 trawlers operating from Kuala Kedah to be “grounded”.

Kedah Fishing Boat Owners Association chairperson Toh Sang Chai said the same thing happened in March and was only resolved after its members staged a protest demonstration and held meetings with LKIM officials.

“This time the problem happened again on Oct 27 and Nov 28. Trawler operators are complaining of erratic diesel supply despite not having used up the quotas assigned for them,” he told reporters when met at the Kuala Kedah fishing jetty near Alor Setar today.

He said each trawler was given a quota of 20,000 litres of diesel per sea outing which would last five to seven days.

Meanwhile, Kedah LKIM director Mohamad Noor Had said he had held talks with the association on the matter last month and had brought it up to the Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism Ministry which is responsible for supplying subsidised diesel.

“We found the problem arose because of an increase in new trawlers and this affected the distribution of the quotas. We will ensure the affected boats get their  supply without any further delay,” he said.

- Bernama