SEPANG – The government will not hesitate to revoke deep sea fishing licences of companies found to be in violation of the licensing conditions, said Agriculture and Agro-based Industry Minister Datuk Seri Noh Omar. He said that the government announced in 2008 that companies issued with deep sea fishing licences would not be allowed to use foreign second-hand boats.
“This is to ensure effective monitoring of the industry by the authorities,” he said, when asked to comment on a picket by fishermen in Tanjong Api yesterday. Noh, who is also Selangor Umno deputy chief, was met by reporters after opening Sepang Umno’s annual delegates meeting here.
Almost 3,000 local fishermen and boat owners staged a picket in Tanjung Api recently, in protest against poaching by foreign fishermen in Malaysian waters. The protest was primarily aimed at those who leased used foreign deep-sea boats to foreign fishermen to enable them to fish in Malaysian waters.
No mention has been made about which companies are involved in these activities which have affected our local fishermen.
CJMY
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