New RM270,000 fishing hall for Tanjung Bidara community

MASJID TANAH: Fishermen in Kampung Pasir Gembur, Tanjung Bidara, will receive a new RM270,000 fishing hall next month, courtesy of Chief Minister Datuk Seri Ab Rauf Yusoh.

The initiative aims to ensure the safety and welfare of fishermen when setting out to sea and returning home with their catch.

Pasir Gembur Fishermen Association chairman Rusli Othman said the commitment ends a decade-long wait for a modern facility.

He said the new hall will streamline daily operations for 27 local fishermen, from preparing their gear to landing their daily catch.

"Alhamdulillah, to me this is a major success for Datuk Seri Ab Rauf himself. He has proven that he does not just make empty promises, but is committed to delivering what was pledged to our fishing community.

"Moving forward, launching and hauling boats ashore will be much safer without needing to build momentum like a jet ski. Equipment and boat storage will also be far more organised," he said.

Earlier, Rauf, accompanied by Rural Development, Agriculture and Food Security Committee chairman Datuk Dr Muhamad Akmal Saleh, officiated the groundbreaking ceremony for the facility.

During the event, fishermen were also presented with GPS Finder devices to assist in navigation and locating fish stocks.

Rusli said the local fishing community was delighted to receive the devices, noting that such equipment is usually costly but highly sought after for pinpointing large schools of fish.

He expressed gratitude for the Chief Minister's initiative, adding that the technology will make trips safer and boost catches.

Meanwhile, 60-year-old fisherman Mustaffa Che Man said the new hall brings renewed hope to local fishermen, giving them proper comfort for their daily operations.

Another fisherman, Mohd Fazli Baba, 43, said the GPS devices will help prevent fishermen from getting lost at sea during bad weather or low visibility.

"I once got lost and drifted as far as Pantai Puteri and Pulau Besar because I did not have a GPS device to guide me back.

"Having this device will make it much easier to track fish and navigate back to our hall safely," he said.

In September last year, Rauf visited the site to inspect the previous 40-year-old facility, which had fallen into disrepair.

Following the visit, he convened a meeting with fishermen representatives and relevant government agencies to expedite the construction of the new fishing hall.