ALL parties, including cooperatives, need to join hands in fighting middlemen to counter rising fish prices, said Kuala Selangor MP Irmohizam Ibrahim.

Irmohizam, who is also Fisheries Development Authority of Malaysia (LKIM) chairman, said one of the initiatives to stop middlemen from increasing fish prices was by selling catch supplied by the National Fishermen’s Association (Nekmat) directly to consumers via cooperatives.

“The fight against middlemen is one of the government’s efforts, not only LKIM. In my opinion, it should be done with the cooperation of all parties,” he told reporters after officiating at the Jom Makan Ikan programme, a campaign to tackle rising costs, in Saujana Utama, Kuala Selangor, today.

He said the programme was the best example of how cooperatives could help in reducing the burden of high costs on consumers by selling frozen fish supplied by Nekmat.

“I welcome all parties, especially cooperatives, to work together with Nekmat to sell the frozen fish, which are fresh.

“We can cut out the middlemen when people get their fish directly from the association.”

The highlight of the programme was the sale of three tonnes of fresh fish, such as jenahak, tenggiri, senangin, bawal hitam, kembung and pari, at discounted prices.

The programme, which attracted more than 100 people, was similar to the one organised by Sungai Besar Umno division chief Jamal Md Yunos last week.

Jamal had alleged that DAP was conspiring with middlemen to increase fish prices, saying it was a ploy ahead of the 14th general election.

The price of ikan kembung, once known as the “poor man’s fish”, now ranges between RM16 and RM20 per kilogramme.

Fishmongers have attributed the price increase to the goods and services tax and higher petrol prices.

Prior to the implementation of GST in April 2015, ikan kembung, which is used as the benchmark for the pricing of other types of fish, cost RM8 per kilogramme at the market.

Its price increase prompted the Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism Ministry to consider placing it on the list of price-controlled items. – October 8, 2017.