10,330 Fishing Vessels Provided With Diesel Subsidy As Of October

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 17 (Bernama) -- A total of 10,330 fishing vessels have received diesel subsidies up to October this year under the Diesel and Petrol Subsidy Scheme for Fishermen, which has been continued by the government to ensure the sustainability of the sector and the stability of the nation’s fish supply.

Minister of Agriculture and Food Security Datuk Seri Mohamad Sabu said that this year, a subsidised diesel quota of 70 million litres per month was approved at RM1.65 per litre, with the total subsidised diesel distributed reaching 532.75 million litres, amounting to RM669 million in subsidies.

“For Sabah, 1,455 vessel owners received diesel subsidies totalling 86.6 million litres, valued at RM116.5 million in 2025, while in 2026, an allocation of 10 million litres per month will be provided to benefit the same group of fishermen,” he told the Dewan Negara today.

He was replying to a question from Senator Datuk Bobbey Suan.

Mohamad said the total allocation and quota will be maintained next year, with subsidy implementation based on quotas, set fuel consumption rates, and verified actual usage by fishermen confirmed by the Fisheries Development Authority (LKIM).

To prevent leakages, he said the ministry is strengthening control mechanisms, including a gradual transition to mobile applications such as facial recognition to verify subsidy recipients, as well as improving existing methods in areas with limited internet access.

Meanwhile, Mohamad said the government does not designate any state or specific area as a specialised food producer, instead adopting a flexible approach based on weather, terrain, and the capacity of local agricultural operators.

“So far, we have not designated specific states or areas to produce particular food items,” he said when replying to a question from Senator Rita Sarimah Patrick Insol.

-- BERNAMA