Disgruntled Malaysian fishermen affected by repeated price hikes in diesel supplied by 'middlemen' will send a memorandum to MCA on the matter.

This decision was reached at a special meeting attended by about 200 representatives from fishermen's co-operatives and associations in Peninsular Malaysia and Sarawak over the weekend.

Representatives from Sabah were unable to attend due to the short notice.

However, the surprisingly large turnout was seen as an indication of the growing concern of a large number of Malaysian fishermen over the increases in diesel prices over the last two weeks.

Hilir Perak Fishermen's Co-operative Society chairperson Kee Kwee Poh said the price of diesel, delivered by 'middlemen' to fishermen, has gone up seven times and that the this could only be stopped through government intervention.

By the weekend, the price was at RM 1.35 sen per litre, up by more than 100 percent since the beginning of the year, and fishermen expect it to exceed RM1.40 by tomorrow.

In the memorandum, to be addressed to MCA president Ong Ka Ting ( photo ), the fishermen want to stress that if middlemen's organisation are allowed to benefit from the subsidies instead of fishermen, this country's fishing industry will collapse.

"Should that happen, not only a lot of fishermen and their dependants will suffer but also many related industries. The country will spend more on foreign exchange to import fish for local consumption," said working committee chairperson Kee Ooi Seng.

He was disappointed that MCA ministers did not show up to listen to their grouses, despite a fax being sent to Ong's office last week, followed-up by a phone call a few days later.

'Fix price'

The meeting yesterday decided to send the memorandum to Ong with the hope that he will raise the matter with the cabinet.

The fishermen want the government to fix a price for the diesel supplied to them and ensure transparency in the implementation of the subsidy.

"The price of fuel makes up 70 percent of our operating costs, and if you take into consideration other costs, including other types of fuel, ice blocks and wages, there will be nothing left even for repairs when the engine breaks down," said Kee.

"Under these circumstances, before long, we may have to cease operations."

Kuching Fishing Boats Association president Tan Boon Ting told the meeting that the biggest problem for fishermen in Sarawak is the activities of foreign-owned charter trawler operators who repeatedly encroach into the waters of local fishermen.

Despite the operations conducted by the marine police, he said, these foreign trawlers could not bothered as they are armed and local fishermen, fearing for their safety, do not put out into sea.

In Sarawak, C2 (deep-sea ) licences have been issued to companies and individuals within the last eight years by the government.

These licence-holders, most of whom allegedly have powerful political connections, have also obtained permission from the ministry of agriculture and agro-based industries to charter foreign trawlers.

Sarawakian trawler operators have since staged a protest and demanded the government to intervene.

During the weekend meeting, fishermen's co-operative societies and groups in Peninsular Malaysia, especially from Perak and Selangor, pledged support for their Sarawakian counterparts.