KUCHING, July 30: A new jetty along the Bakun lakeshore to facilitate access for local inland fishermen is expected to be completed in two years’ time, said Deputy Chief Minister Tan Sri James Jemut Masing.
According to Masing, the new jetty will be using an alternative road by-passing the Sarawak Energy Berhad (SEB) security road.
“This jetty is due for completion in two years time, and once completed, then sales of fish catch can be done within bigger areas,” he said in a statement today.
Masing also pointed that the inland fishermen or “nelayan darat”, unlike their “nelayan laut” counterparts, have no association and therefore no assistance from the government.
He had suggested to Murum assemblyman Kennedy Chukpai Ugon to form a “Persatuan Nelayan Darat Bakun and Murum”, so that government funding could be channeled to their association.
“This is in order to assist them in acquiring the necessary equipment like boats, engines, nets and other needed accessories to earn better income, and Chukpai is now in the process of doing it.
“It is my hope that the relevant agencies make this allocation to them soonest. These inland fisherman residing along the Bakun and Murum lake shores needed help while the fish in the lake is still in abundance,” he added.
The inland fisherman in Bakun and Murum lakeshore normally send their catch to the jetty every Wednesday and Saturday, for buyers who come all over from Sibu, Bintulu and Miri.—DayakDaily
