KOTA KINABALU: The State Government must re-study the use of pump boat by fishermen in Sabah for security reason, said Sulaman State Assemblyman, Datuk Seri Panglima Haji Hajiji Haji Noor.
He said we have received a lot of reports that pump boat has been the most preferred vehicle of terrorists from a neighbouring country to infiltrate the State waters to commit crime and kidnapping.
“We must study the use of this, I have also received reports that there are also foreign fishermen (not Malaysian citizen) who use pump boat to steal and bomb fish in our waters.
“They use pump boat so to enable them to escape and move through shallow water areas within the mangrove forest swamps and so on. By doing that, it makes it difficult for the law enforcers like police to detect and catch them.
“Therefore, I hope that on security reason, the use of pump boat by fishermen must be re-studied,” he said when debating on the 2020 State Budget at the State Legislative Assembly here today.
Hajiji, who is also Sabah Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (BERSATU) Chief, said incidences related to the use of fish bomb have been rampant in Sabah right now.
According to him, it is very worrying because fish bombs not only killed the fish, small and big, but also destroyed the coral reefs and all natural marine beauties and plants on the sea surface of the State waters.
“The incident on July 5, 2019, where two divers from China and our local diving instructor killed in waters off Kalapuan Island, Semporna, showed the use of fish bomb is very widespread.
“According to a report by the WWF-Malaysia, through the installation of seven seismic detectors within Semporna district alone, they have recorded a total of 1,195 blasts from June to December 2018.
“24 cases of arrests related to the use of fish bomb were reported in 2018, while for this year there 39 cases. This is very worrying.
“Thus I urge the Government to take a stern action to curb this irresponsible act.
“Together we preserve and save our marine life and beauty for the future generation. We should not use such a method and culture to catch fish, instead just use a fishing net and other methods allowed by the law,” stressed Hajiji.
He also welcomed the government effort to allocate RM43 million next year to non-Islamic religious bodies, private schools and the mission schools.
“This brings much relief and, at the same time, places Sabah as an example state in the context of unity and harmony among people of diversed races.”
Hajiji also requested the Law and Native Affairs Minister to explain on the appointments of native chiefs, native chief representatives and village heads in his constituency, where there are a number of those appointed who are from one family.
He said for example, an elder brother was appointed as a native chief while the younger brother as the native chief representative, or the father as the village head while the son is the native chief, and so on which involves several villages.
“I bring up this matter because it has become a subject of complaints by the people, particularly those living in the villages involved, who considered it as a form of nepotism practise,” he stressed.
