Fishermen lobby for vessel upgrades and tech in Malaysia's 2027 budget

During a televised interview, Azrin Shah Ismail of the National Fishermen's Association advocated for the 2027 budget to focus on modernising Malaysia's fishing fleet and related equipment. He emphasized that technologies such as satellite navigation, sonar, fish finders, IoT and AI could help fishermen locate catches more efficiently, reduce fuel consumption and increase yields. The association also seeks investment in integrated post-landing infrastructure, including cold storage, ice systems and refrigerated seawater, to maintain product quality and command higher market prices.

While the 2026 budget provided almost RM178 million in subsidies and RM20 million for vessel upgrades, Azrin called for expanded financing mechanisms like matching grants or soft loans to cover insurance and equipment costs. He further suggested that subsidy distribution be tightened using Vessel Monitoring System and Automatic Identification System to ensure aid reaches active fishers. The budget is slated for parliamentary presentation on October 9.