Factory destroys caged fish farming in Sukau village
Published on: Wednesday, November 25, 2015
Kota Kinabalu: Sukau Assemblyman Datuk Saddi Abdul Rahman has urged the State Government to take immediate action against an oil palm factory operator that has destroyed caged fish farming in Kg Mumiang, causing huge losses to 30 operators there.He said about 5,000 kilogrammes of various fish species died due to dumping of effluent indiscriminately into the river by the factory just last week."Due to the irresponsible act of the factory operator, the 30 caged fish operators have immediately closed down their operations due to the huge losses that they incurred and they have lost their income.
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"This is not the first time this has happened to them but the losses they incurred last week was huge involving about RM200,000."Hence, I am urging the relevant authorities like the Department of Environment (DOE) and Environment Protection Department (EPD) to investigate and take grave action on the big offence committed by the oil palm factory operator," he said.Saddi said this when debating the State Budget 2016 at the State Legislative Assembly here on Tuesday.In addition, he said the factory operator also needs to compensate the big losses incurred by the 30 caged fish operators as the aquaculture activity is their source of income.
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He hoped the Fisheries Department will consider providing some kind of financial consolation to the 30 operators so as to lessen the burden faced by them as their caged fish involve farming of various high quality fishes like Íkan putih', and red snappers, among others.Apart from this, Saddi also called on the government to expedite the development of the Mesej Sejahtera project involving oil palm cultivation in Kg Abai, Sukau.
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"This Mesej Sejahtera project involves 500 acres of land in Kg Abai for oil palm plantation but as of now only Phase 1 involving 250 acres has kicked off."What I am requesting is for a road heading to the project to be built so as to facilitate the settlers in coming years and also to bring in materials needed for the project," he said.Saddi said there is also an urgent need to upgrade an Islamic religious school in Bukit Garam, Kinabatangan, believed to be under the Sabah Islamic Religious Affairs Department (Jheains) as it is in a state of disrepair.He said the teaching staff for the school of about 200 students are also not enough as out of 10, only four are full-time while the rest are part-time teachers.He also urged Sabah Housing Development and Town Planning Board (LPPB) to build more affordable homes or low-cost houses not only in the city area but also rural districts like in Kinabatangan to cater to the low-income group people."Many people cannot afford to buy property nowadays due to skyrocketing prices of houses especially in the city area.Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express’s Telegram channel.
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