Local fishermen cautioned against employing illegals
Published on: Friday, April 24, 2015
Beaufort: Local fishermen have been cautioned not to use short cuts to gain profit by hiring illegal immigrants as their workers.Sabah Farmers Organisation (LPP) Chairman Datuk Mohd Nazri Abdullah said it is imperative they and aquaculture operators abide by the law so as to avoid legal action by the enforcement authorities."Hiring foreigners who do not possess any valid document is a violation of the law and this applies to all employers including fishermen involved in deep-sea fishing or aquaculture activities.
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"Do not employ illegal immigrants just because it is cheap to pay their wages when it could bring unexpected losses in the long run," he said.Nazri, who is also Special Officer in the Prime Minister's Department, said this when opening the 13th Annual General Meeting of Teluk Padas Fishermen Association at a multipurpose hall in Weston town, here, Thursday.Some 500 fishermen attended the meeting together with its Teluk Padas Fishermen Association Chairman Masri Latif, Malaysian Fisheries Development Authority's (LKIM) Sabah economic assistant officer Zul Atfi Haziman and other officials.He was commenting on a recent call by Eastern Sabah Security Command (Esscom) Commander Datuk Abdul Rashid Harun to not take in foreigners who do not have valid documents and permits as workers.
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Rashid was also reported as saying that those found violating the law would be prosecuted as security issue overrides personal interest of the individuals or their businesses.In light of this, Nazri said all fisherman including those in the Eastern Sabah Security Zone (Esszone) must comply with all procedures and regulations for security purposes.
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At the same time, he called on the fishermen to work together with the security forces in channelling information and tip-offs on illegal and suspicious activities especially to the police and Esscom."Each fishermen's association also needs to foster closer ties with the enforcement authorities including through social media like Facebook or WhatsApp so that any tip-off can be channelled faster."This is necessary so that any information that is channelled to them could be acted on immediately especially when it involves security in the waters," Nazri said.He also expressed support for a call made by the Agriculture and Agro-based Minister who vowed to fight against middlemen for the benefit of farmers, fishermen and livestock breeders.Nazri said LPP will be working together with all fishermen associations in Sabah to ensure the mission of eliminating middlemen could be achieved so that they could enjoy better income.Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express’s Telegram channel.
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