Fishermen in Sungai Rengit are calling on the next elected representative in the Johor state election to prioritise long-standing issues affecting their livelihoods, including fishing licence shortages and the upgrading of the local jetty.
Speaking on behalf of the fishing community, Azmin Mohamed, 40, said many genuine fishermen have been unable to obtain valid fishing licences despite relying on the industry as their primary source of income.
According to Azmin, only a small number of the approximately 300 registered and unregistered fishermen in Sungai Rengit currently possess valid licences due to the limited annual quota.
“Only around five licences are allocated to each fishing base every year, making it extremely difficult for active fishermen to secure one,” he said.
He also pointed out that some existing licence holders no longer go out to sea but continue to retain their licences, urging the government to conduct a licence regularisation exercise so that active fishermen can legally continue earning a living.
Beyond licensing issues, Azmin called on the authorities to safeguard the interests of local fishermen as development projects continue in the area. While the community supports progress, he said projects such as river deepening and widening should be planned carefully to minimise disruption to fishing activities.
He recalled that fishermen had previously been asked to relocate from Sungai Rengit because of development at the Sungai Musuh jetty. However, during the monsoon season, fishermen from the affected area still return to Sungai Rengit to shelter and moor their boats.
Meanwhile, deep-sea fisherman Hidayat Isa, 35, appealed for greater attention to the welfare and economic needs of fishing communities, saying they require stronger government support to sustain their livelihoods.
He also expressed hope that the Sungai Rengit jetty would be upgraded to improve facilities and better serve local fishermen.
The Tanjung Surat state seat will see Barisan Nasional (BN) candidate Aznan Tamin contesting against Pakatan Harapan (PH) candidate Faizul Abdul Ghani in the 11 July Johor state election, with many fishermen hoping the successful candidate will deliver on their long-standing concerns.
