KUCHING: Malaysian Fishery Development Board (LKIM) is giving qualified fishermen another chance to appeal for the Fishermen Household Living Aid.
“If the fishermen are over 70 years old, we automatically consider them to be unqualified,” LKIM director-general Jamaludin Othman told a press conference yesterday.
“But if the individual forwards an appeal to us, we will send out a team to investigate and upon discovering that he is still physically able, we will reconsider his application for the living aid,” he added.
Fishermen with wrecked boats who are unable to go out to sea for more than three months are advised to fix their boats and have them examined by LKIM to qualify for the living aid.
As of November 2019, 34617 fishermen were given the living aid, and approximately 6000 of those qualified were from Sarawak.
“Our goal is to make sure aid is given to fishermen who go out to sea for at least 120 days a year,” explained Jamaludin.
On the amount of aid given, he said it was enough to lighten the burden of fishermen.
