The Malaysian Insight

A TRUST fund is being set up by the Fisheries Development Authority of Malaysia (LKIM) to enable children of fishermen to continue their education, said chairman Muhammad Faiz Fadzil.

Kumpulan Wang Amanah Nelayan (KWAN) is also needed to protect one of the most vulnerable occupational sectors in the country, he said, adding that fishermen have no security unlike those working in other sectors who have Employees Provident Fund (EPF) and Socso coverage.

There is insurance for fishermen but only for accidents when they are out at sea, leaving those unable to work because of illness or disability with nothing else to fall back on.

“LKIM is in the midst of setting up KWAN, a trust fund for the purpose of helping fishermen, especially those who are ill or unable to work.

“The fund is needed so that when these fishermen can no longer work, they will at least be able to continue with their lives without depriving their children of an education,” Faiz told The Malaysian Insight.

The trust fund would help children of fishermen when responding to a recent report by The Malaysian Insight’s on teenagers in Sabak Bernam who quit school because their families faced financial difficulties.

According to Sg Haji Dorani jetty chief Zulkarnain Saidek, about 20% of working fishermen didn’t complete schooling. Many completed their primary education and quit once they entered form one to help their families.

Faiz said it is unfair to force teens to give up schooling to become the family breadwinner but he noted that Sabak Bernam was also one of the poorest districts in Selangor.

The fisheries department in Sabak Bernam has been directed to ensure that these youths are given proper training, he added.

It will also help a 21-year-old fisherman without a permit to obtain a proper licence.

The department will also help the youth process his application to receive the cost-of-living aid (Bantuan Sara Hidup) and diesel subsidies for fishermen. – August 12, 2019.