Mohd Haikal Mohd Isa Bernama 12 Oct 14;
JOHOR BAHARU, Oct 12 (Bernama) -- The welfare and future of fishermen in Johor's coastal areas, adversely affected by the rapid development taking place, will be taken care of through the Johor Fishermen Foundation, now in the final stage of its establishment.
South Johor Fishermen's Association chairman, Azli Mohamad Aziz said the association had suggested that the state government contribute a start-up fund of RM10 million to the foundation.
"The idea of setting up the foundation came from Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin who wants the welfare and future of the state's fishermen be safeguarded.
"Through the start-up fund, the Johor Fishermen Foundation plans to venture into various kinds of business to derive profits which will then be channelled back to the fishermen involved," he told BERNAMA, in Johor Baharu.
Azli said the foundation would focus on looking after the plight of fishermen affected by the rapid development in Iskandar Malaysia, including the Forest City coastal land reclamation project in Gelang Patah.
The foundation will also assist coastal fishermen affected by the Refinery and Petrochemical Integrated Development (RAPID) project in Pengerang.
It is understood that the State Economic Development Unit is acting as the secretariat for the foundation's organising committee.
Of late, fisherman in Gelang Patah have voiced concern over the effects of the Forest City reclamation project in the Johor Straits on their livelihood.
The project will create four man-made islands and although the land reclamation works have now been stopped temporarily, the effects have already been felt by the fishermen who complained about poor fish catch.
The Forest City project with a gross development value of RM600 billion over a period of 30 years, is a joint venture between the state government's subsidiary company Kumpulan Prasarana Rakyat Johor (KPRJ) and real estate developer from China, Country Garden.
The RAPID project in Pengerang is spearheaded by Petronas, which is committed to making Pengerang an oil and gas hub in the Asian region.
Azli said the Johor Fishermen Foundation planned to venture into oil palm cultivation together with the Johor Fishermen's Association (JOSFA), and into other industries.
He said the foundation would be using JOSFA's successful business model in its effort to improve the fishermen's economy which was affected by the rapid development taking place.
"We fishermen do not reject development in Johor, but at the same time we don't want to be sidelined or marginalised. Our welfare and future need to be safeguarded too," he said.
--BERNAMA
