Lifting freeze ends lo$$e$ and suspension of workers

Tawau: Eight seafood import-export firms and their more than 500 employees can heave a sigh of relief after the State Government announced the re-opening of trading activities in the Eastern Sabah Security Zone (Esszone) beginning Feb 1.Tawau Fishery Association (PPT) Chairman Arsani Arsat (pic) said the announcement by Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Aman was timely.

"Since the closing of operations on Oct. 16, 2016, we faced losses of RM15 million to RM20 million per month, and some companies even had to suspend their employees.

"We hope we can continue our operations with the re-opening of all trading activities, including shipping and the import-export activities while the suspended workers can be re-instated.

"We also hope the fish prices in the Tawau markets which had risen will be balanced and it will be good for the people who were also affected since three months ago," he told a press conference, Thursday.

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The Association welcomed the announcement as it would enable contract deals with buyers to be fulfilled and give a positive impact to the State's economy.

According to him, nearly 70 per cent of the workers in the industry are locals while the rest are foreigners.

"The eight marine produce import-export companies in the district depended much on fish supplies from Nunukan, Tarakan and Sungai Nyamuk, Indonesia, especially for fish species which are scarcely found in the State's waters."

Among them are white pomfrets, threadfins, groupers and rays, among others.

Sixty per cent of the import fish supply is intended for the domestic market where in Tawau alone, it needs between 15 and 20 tonnes of fish per day, while rest are exported to the peninsula and abroad.

Towards this end, he thanked the Government for listening to their woes as well as other related agencies like the National Security Council, Sabah Commissioner of Police, Esscom and the Fisheries Department.

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"I am confident the Government's decision will augur well with the booming import-export industry.

"The decision is monitored by the Sabah Fisheries Department and we are hoping to meet with the director to further discuss the regulations of fish entries from neighbouring countries," he said.

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