THE government will raise the Elaun Sara Hidup for fishermen back to RM300 from RM250 a month, said Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin today.

“I would like to remind you that during the time Pakatan Harapan (PH) was running the government, Warisan was part of PH. At that time, the Elaun Sara Hidup for fishermen was cut from RM300 to RM250.

“Today, I would like to announce that we are restoring it (to the previous amount),” he said to loud applause at the launch of the Bukit Huma Padi Fertiliser and Pesticide Subsidy Scheme in Dataran Bagandang, Beaufort, about 90km from Kota Kinabalu.

Present were Agriculture and Food Industries Minister Ronald Kiandee, his two deputies, Ahmad Hamzah and Che Abdullah Mat Nawi, Beaufort MP Azizah Mohd Dun and former Sabah chief minister Musa Aman.

The scheme, among others, offers assistance in the form of grants, allowances, breeding schemes and zakat to eligible farmers, livestock breeders and fishermen to improve their standard of living.

The scheme involves agencies like the National Farmers Organisation (Nafas), Fisheries Development Authority of Malaysia (LKIM), Farmers Organisation Authority (LPP) and Agrobank. 

The allowance is included in the scheme launched by the prime minister this morning, and will benefit 7,581 fishermen in Sabah.

The scheme also covers the Breeders Income Scheme incentive involving an allocation of RM1.73 million, which will benefit small- and medium-scale ruminant and poultry breeders.

The Young Agropreneur Grant also involves an allocation of RM2.94 million for the benefit of 182 entrepreneurs and the Coffee Industry Development Project Incentive has an allocation of RM556,000.

Muhyiddin said the government is aware of the hardship faced by fishermen, breeders and farmers, especially as the country grapples with the Covid-19 pandemic.

“I hear and understand the difficulties faced by the fishermen community during the challenging time when the country is dealing with Covid-19. I hope this increase in allowance will ease your burden to a certain extent,” he said.

In his speech, the prime minister also said that the Perikatan Nasional (PN) is taking appropriate measures to ensure economic stability in the county.

“I have to say this because our economy almost collapsed due to the problems we are facing. That is why the government acted in such a way (in giving assistance), including for the agricultural sector, so that our economy will not collapse and the people will not suffer,” he said.

Muhyiddin said that, with the ruling PN government’s capability, Malaysia has been able to handle the Covid-19 outbreak to the extent of being recognised as one of five countries in the world to have succeeded in controlling the spread of the disease.

“This (Covid-19) is something that has never happened in the history of Malaysia, or anywhere else in the world. It is still a problem in every part of the globe, as well as in Malaysia.

“But at least, with the ability of our (PN) government, Malaysia has reached the highest level in the effort to face and overcome the problems of Covid-19,” he added. – Bernama, September 17, 2020.