RM1 million channelled to boost Sibu fisheries sector

SIBU (April 8): The Sarawak Department of Marine Fisheries has channelled RM1.01 million as of 2025 to support Sibu’s fishing community.

The department’s senior director Abdul Rahman Abdul Wahab said the support covers fishing equipment and safety gears, infrastructure such as the rivermouth development at Kuala Paloh and Kuala Igan, timber ladders, river clean-up works, and also light installations to improve navigation.

He highlighted this at the ‘Fisheries Network Leaders (KJP) Appointment and Capacity-Building Programme for Region 2’ here yesterday.

Adding on, Abdul Rahman also hailed Sarawak as having the highest number of KJP in Malaysia with 202 members statewide, including 67 in Sibu.

“This Region 2 also houses 43 downstream fisheries enterprises, showing that this sector extends beyond fishing to value-added production, generating extra income for the community.

“Moreover, value-added fisheries products such as ‘sesar unjur’, ‘lumek salai’, ‘pipus undang’ and ‘gonjeng’ contribute significantly to the local economy, and enhance the livelihood of Sibu’s fishing community,” he said.

On the KJP, Abdul Rahman expressed appreciation to the appointees for their commitment in connecting the department, the government, and the fishing community.

“Since the rebranding in 2018, the department has moved from a traditional model to a strategic network model.

“In this sense, the KJP acts as a two-way channel: conveying initiatives to the community, and bringing the feedback to the government.”