Association slams Terengganu exco man over jibe at Pahang fishermen

PETALING JAYA: An association has hit out at Terengganu executive councillor Dr Azman Ibrahim after he claimed that many fishermen were fishing in Terengganu’s waters only to sell their catches in Pahang.

Zulkiflee Yusof, the chairman of the Pahang Fishermen’s Association, said Azman’s statement was unfair to them as no state government official had ever touched on the large presence of Terengganu fishermen in Pahang waters.

“This should have never been made an issue as we fishermen simply want to ensure there is a supply of fish in the market, and not just in the Pahang market,” he said.

He was responding to Azman’s cynical response to a Facebook posting stating that the highest amount of fish landing in the east coast was in Kemunting, Pahang, and not Chendering, Terengganu, or Tok Bali, Kelantan.

“Did you know that many fishing boats actually catch their fish in Terengganu’s waters only to bring their catches ashore in Kuantan, Pahang?” he said on X, in mockery of the Facebook post.

The Jabi assemblyman drew brickbats from netizens, who said it simply showed that fishermen preferred the facilities in Kuantan.

Tuan Sulong Tuan Jusoh, a member of the Kuantan Fishermen Association’s board of directors, said fishermen from both Pahang and Terengganu would fish in the waters of both states, and others.

“Terengganu fishermen fish in the waters of Pahang, Johor and Kelantan, and Pahang fishermen do the same,” he said, while urging Azman to put the matter to rest.