SPEED UP ON S'KAN FISHERMEN'S JETTY

Sandakan: Sekong Assemblyman Datuk Samsudin Yahya is calling for the proposed construction works of the fishermen's jetty here to be implemented as soon as possible.

He said it was crucial to have the jetty built as soon as possible so that fishing boats could have a proper docking area. The absence of a docking area has made things difficult for fishermen to go about their daily activities.

"The sooner the jetty is built the better so that fishing activities here can return to normal. It would also reduce the need to subsidise the fishermen once the jetty is in place," said Samsudin.

He told reporters this after officiating the Malaysian Fisheries Development Authority's (LKIM) 16th Annual General Meeting here, Tuesday.

Samsudin said the RM1.5 million jetty is already in the planning stages and construction is expected to be complete in 2010.

He said there should be no problems with building the jetty on Tanah Merah, Sandakan, as the land belongs to LKIM.

Samsudin hoped that LKIM would extend whatever aid they can to help the local fishermen, such as by providing subsidies.

Also present were LKIM Deputy Director, Mohd Khazin Hamzah and Sandakan District Fishermen's Association Chairman, Asmaul Gindung.