By DayakDaily Team
BINTULU, Jan 6: Bintulu MP Dato Sri Tiong King Sing has warned that the Federal Government’s failure to address the Sarawak fishermen’s protest against mandatory Mobile Tracking Unit (MTU) installation policy could lead to fish supply shortages and higher prices in the market ahead of Chinese New Year celebration.
He criticised the Fisheries Department for its “insensitive” decision to enforce MTU installation on Class C fishing vessels and its warning that fishing licenses will not be renewed for non-compliant vessels, describing the move as poorly planned and dismissive of fishermen’s concerns.
In response, over 200 Class C trawlers across Sarawak have started suspending operations for a week, staging a protest to express their dissatisfaction with the policy and its financial implications.
“A single move can indeed affect the entire system. With the Chinese New Year approaching, this strike by the fishing industry will impact the supply of fish in the market.
“If the authorities fail to promptly implement a better solution, there will likely be a shortage of supply, forcing the public to pay higher prices for fish.
“How will the Fisheries Department then answer to the people?” he said in a statement today.
He further urged the relevant authorities to engage in effective dialogue with fishermen as soon as possible and seek appropriate solutions to prevent this issue from escalating further, potentially affecting Sarawak’s food supply chain and security.
At the same time, he noted that many fishermen are still haunted by a similar policy introduced in 2017, when the government mandated the use of Automatic Identification Systems (AIS).
That initiative collapsed after agents responsible for the rollout disappeared, leaving fishermen stranded and skeptical of new enforcement measures.
“I sincerely hope that the director-general of the Fisheries Department and the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Dato Seri Mohamad Sabu, will address this issue and resolve it appropriately to ensure fishermen can continue to make a living,” he added.
On Jan 4, 218 fishermen from Sibu, Miri, Bintulu, and Sarikei berthed their vessels and stopped operations as a sign of protest against the mandatory installation of MTUs on Class C vessels, citing financial hardships and lingering distrust due to unresolved issues with a previous tracking system.
The Fisheries Department in Putrajaya has since invited Sarawak Fishing Vessel Association (SFVA) representatives for negotiations, with discussions scheduled to take place today. – DayakDaily
