Emergency motion: MPs to discuss fishermen's strike
Parliamentarians will seek to resolve the issues behind the nationwide strike by fishermen when the matter is discussed in the House this evening.
Parliamentarians will seek to resolve the issues behind the nationwide strike by fishermen when the matter is discussed in the House this evening.
This came about after an emergency motion on the matter filed by Bandar Kuching MP Chong Chieng Jen was allowed by Deputy Speaker Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar.
Wan Junaidi said that the motion was of public importance and urgent. He then allocated one hour for parliamentarians to debate on the issue.
The debate will commence at 4.30 this evening.
On Dec 12, some 20,000 fishermen participated in what appeared to be the biggest fishermen's strike in the country to demand that the government reduce their diesel subsidy price to RM1.
The government reduced the diesel for fishermen from RM1.43 to RM1.30 but the fishermen want it further reduced to RM1.
According to media reports, the boycott that involved some 5,000 boats would reduce the country's fish supply by half.
The boycott was organised by Selangor and Perak Fishermen's Association and fellow fishermen from Pulau Pinang, Kedah, Perlis and Sarawak.
Updated 7.25pm: Filing his motion earlier, Chong put the blame on the Ministry of Agriculture and Agro-based Industry for the strike.
The Bandar Kuching MP said the ministry was not doing enough to help improve the living conditions of the fishermen and the government’s refusal to reduce diesel price to RM1 as compared to the RM1.30 fishermen have to pay currently.
Responding to Chong’s accusations on behalf of her ministry, Deputy Minister Rohani Abdul Karim dismissed the allegations as an attempt by Chong and DAP to gain cheap publicity.
“The content of your motion is extreme as the BN government is always concerned about the welfare of our fishermen. This motion is nothing but your and DAP’s attempt to gain cheap publicity,” the deputy minister charged.
Rohani said the government has tried its best to help the fishermen when it reduced diesel price from RM1.40 to RM1.30 and that by doing so, the government still has to bear a subsidy cost of RM480 million.
“At least we reduced it. This show that we are concerned about the welfare of our fishermen,” she added.
Several BN parliamentarians rose to support Rohani, agreeing with her claim that the DAP rep was merely trying to harpoon on the issue to gain popularity.
Deputy Speaker Ronald Kiandee ended the debate after an hour and requested MPs to resume proceeding of the day.
