Najib approves RM3.2m allocation to construct wavebreaker in Langkawi

LANGKAWI, Feb 17 — Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak today approved a RM3.2 million allocation for the construction of a 100-metre wavebreaker at the fishermen’s jetty at Chenang near here.

Najib said the approved allocation was for the application submitted by the Ministry of Agriculture and Agro-based Industry to the Prime Minister’s Department’s Implementation Coordination Unit, last year

“I was informed by Agriculture and Agro-based Industry Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Shabery Cheek that sometimes the waves are too strong for the fishing boats here so there is a need to build a breakwater to solve this problem,” he said.

He said this when speaking at the ‘Sepetang Bersama Nelayan’ and the Langkawi parliamentary constituency level’s village street lights handing over ceremony at the Malaysian Fisheries Development Authority (LKIM) jetty at Chenang, near here.

So far, there is a total of 2,169 registered fishermen in Langkawi, involving 11,434 tonnes (RM36.37 million) of fish landing last year.

Also present were Rural and Regional Development Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob, LKIM chairman Datuk Seri Irmohizam Ibrahim and Kedah Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Ahmad Bashah Md Hanipah.

Najib also announced the construction of a new jetty at Kuala Teriang with an allocation of RM500,000 and expected to benefit 310 fishermen with 120 boats in the area.

He said since he held the prime minister’s post,  a total of RM33.26 million had been approved by him for the development and facilities for the fishermen in Langkawi, including the construction of the Kilim fishermen jetty, repair works of fishermen’s houses and the upgrading of the Penarak LKIM complex.

“For 2017, RM3.05 million has been awarded to 868 recipients in Langkawi for cost of living allowances and LKIM has allocated a similar budget for the fishermen on the island this year,” he said.

He added that in efforts to provide comfort to the fishermen’s families, the government, since 2013, had approved a RM3.87 million allocation to 335 fishermen throughout Langkawi for repair works on their houses as well as the construction of new ones.

At the function, Najib also launched the Langkawi parliamentary constituency as well as the national level of the handing over of the village street lights (LJK) ceremony.

Thus far, at the Langkawi parliamentary constituency, a total of 537 street lights have been installed in May 2017 and fully completed on Oct 27 last year, benefiting nearly 53,500 residents from 107 villages.

The government, through the Rural and Regional Development Ministry has spent RM247 million to install more than 317,000 units of street lights nationwide from the time of the Eighth Malaysia Plan (8MP) to the 11th Malaysia Plan (11MP) in 2016.

Last week, Najib announced an additional RM100 million allocation to build street lights that would benefit 2.5 million villagers nationwide.

Of the total, the government has approved a RM50 million allocation, while the remaining RM50 million will be contributed by the Tenaga Nasional Berhad (TNB) involving the installation of 50,000 units of street lights. — Bernama