TAIPING: The fisheries development authority (LKIM) is preparing a tender to appoint a company to supply frozen fish.
LKIM chairman Syed Abu Hussin Hafiz Syed Abdul Fasal said the move would curb the growing monopoly of cartels.
“The government, through this company appointed by LKIM, will buy, store, process and market fish on a large scale.
“This will prevent the cartels from monopolising the business during the time there is an abundant supply of fish,” he said at a press conference after handing over outboard engines in Kampung Tebuk, Matang, near here, today.
A total of 46 fishermen at the Kampung Tebuk and Kampung Matang Gelugor jetties received the outboard engines, costing a total of RM494,000, to help them increase their income.
Syed Abu Hussin said at the moment, fish was fetching a high price as it was being monopolised by cartels that bought the fish in large quantities during the good fishing seasons.
He said LKIM was confident that appointing the company would stabilise or reduce the price of fish in the market.
“The issue of cartels is not new.
“They will move in to buy fish at the landing locations when fish is abundant. This enables them to control the market price,” he added.