Kota Kinabalu: Fishing boat owners here are disappointed over a new diesel subsidy policy using “MyMinyak” mobile application implemented by the Malaysian Fisheries Development Authority (LKIM). They claim it is a heavy burden as the changes have added operational and financial pressure on them over the past three years.
LKIM introduced the MyMinyak mobile application, this year, to facilitate the purchase of subsidised diesel for fishermen but it received criticism from fishing community in some states in the peninsula and now in Sabah.
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Kota Kinabalu Fishing Boat Owners’ Association President Simon Fong said the reduction of subsidised diesel quotas from 20,000 litres to 17,000 litres, coupled with the introduction of a new diesel purchasing system, were carried out without a transparent consultation process with the fishermen and without taking into account the actual conditions faced by fishermen on the ground.
Although LKIM has held dialogue sessions, he said these engagements appear to be merely a formality.
“The views and complaints raised by the fishermen were never translated into any policy improvements. We feel as though we were heard but not listened to,” he said in a press conference here on Saturday.
Simon said the new system has made the diesel purchasing process slower and less flexible, directly affecting fishermen’s ability to go out to sea.
“Fishing operations are highly dependent on timing, weather, tides and sea conditions, and any delay in fuel procurement could cause fishermen to miss suitable fishing windows.
“As a result, fishermen are experiencing fewer working days, reduced catches and declining incomes, which in turn affects the livelihoods of thousands of fishing families across Sabah,” he said.
Simon also pointed to frequent and unpredictable technical problems at fuel stations, including power outages, delays in fuel deliveries and malfunctioning pumps or verification systems.
“Under the new system, fishermen are required to make payment before refuelling, increasing the risk of financial losses.
“When technical issues occur, fishermen cannot purchase diesel on the same day, refunds take time despite limited cash flow, and opportunities to buy fuel at other stations are lost because transactions are already locked into the system,” he said, adding that this further disrupts fishing schedules.
While supporting government efforts to curb subsidised diesel smuggling, he stressed that legitimate fishermen should not be made victims of anti-smuggling measures.
“Policies aimed at tackling smuggling must not penalise law-abiding fishermen who genuinely depend on subsidised diesel to earn a living,” he said.
In light of this, Simon called on the government and LKIM to review implementation of policy that causing difficulties to the fishermen, take into account operational and technical realities, and conduct genuine engagement with fishermen and their associations before introducing or enforcing new measures.
“We urge the government and LKIM to listen to the views of fishermen or fishermen’s associations before formulating or implementing any policy.
“Take into account on-the-ground realities, including all technical risks and operational constraints. Review the implementation method of the new system so that it is more practical, flexible, and less burdensome.
“Conduct genuine engagement, rather than dialogue that is merely ceremonial in nature,” Fong said while adding that a government that listens to its people is a government that can endure and bring prosperity to the nation.
