The Malaysian Insight

THE case of about 100 teenagers who quit school to become fishermen in Sabak Bernam is an isolated incident, the Fisheries Development Authority said.

Its chairman, Muhammad Faiz Fadzil, said while itis common for teenagers in Selangor’s poorest district to leave school to find work to support the family, the recent case was unusual in that the dropouts were underage.

“This is an isolated case of underage fishermen working to ensure their families survive. This could be because their parents are unwell and these kids are forced to start working,” he told The Malaysian Insight.

“I have instructed the Sabak Bernam Fisheries Department to look into this matter. I have told them to locate and identify these youngsters so that we can also provide them with training in fishing in Setiawan, Perak.

Faiz, who is the Pematang Pasir assemblyman, said he has also instructed the fisheries departments of the various states to extend aid to fishermen who can’t make ends meet

“They must identify fishermen who are suffering financially, look into their needs and help their children’s schooling.”

The government gives fishermen a monthly allowance of RM200.

Last month, the Fisheries Development Authority announced an insurance scheme for fishermen at a RM100 annual premium.

The Malaysian Insight previously reported that poverty forced many children of fishermen in Sabak Bernam to stop schooling and pick up their father’s trade.

Sg Haji Dorani jetty chief Zulkarnain Saidek said about 20% of fishermen hadn’t completed school. Many dropped out after primary school to contribute to the household income.

Sg Panjang assemblyman Mohd Imran Tamrin told The Malaysian Insight that what the young fishermen did was not child labour nor were they being exploited as they earned the same as any other fishermen. 

While he did not approve of their decision to drop out, Imran said the youths were driven by poverty to work to feed their families. – August 5, 2019.