FARMING and fishing activities can continue during the movement control order (MCO) period, said Senior Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob.

In his daily press conference today, Ismail Sabri said there is no issue with farmers and fishermen carrying on with their activities.

“Agricultural activities, including fishing, are allowed. Farmers can carry on planting rice and fisherman can go to sea as usual. They will not be stopped.

“There is no issue here. Even if they need to send their stocks, they can do that. Anything related to the agricultural sector is allowed,” he said.

He said that process of packing food items was also allowed.

The defence minister reiterate this message to counter talk surfacing on social media that some agricultural activities were curtailed under the MCO.

Previously, fishermen in Penang and Selangor had told The Malaysian Insight that they could no longer make an income under the restriction order.

Several fishermen said that they have had to dump their catch due to a lack of demand as traders only want to buy in small quantities. 

They also said that they are not happy with the allocation of between RM100,000 and RM200,000 in Putrajaya’s latest stimulus package, as it is not sufficient to plan large-scale projects nor does it help those whose incomes are badly affected by the MCO. – April 5, 2020.