State Govt working on regaining maritime rights
Published on: Monday, March 08, 2021
By: Borneo Post Online
Credit: malaymail.com
Kota Kinabalu: The State Government is currently working to restore its rights over the State’s waters, said Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Seri Dr Jeffrey Kitingan (pic).Dr Jeffrey, who is also State Agriculture and Fisheries Minister, said this must be done as right now, “we do not have the right to collect revenues from our own marine products except inland products such as fresh water and aquaculture products.”
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“The Fisheries Act 1985 gave the Federal Government the right to collect revenue for all marine products, which means that we are losing millions of ringgit revenue,” he said in a statement after hosting the Malaysia-China Business Council (MCBC) delegate, here, recently.
Currently, the State’s fisheries sector generates up to RM800 million annually which goes directly to the federal government through the Fisheries Development Authority of Malaysia (LKIM).
He said the situation had to be rectified as soon as possible so that the State could again take control of the industry including the issuance of licences.
In addition, he said having rights over its own waters would mean that Sabah would be able to attract investors who are interested to invest in its fisheries industry.
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