Petronas should consider giving some form of payment to fishermen in Paka and Kertih, the locations for the national petroleum company’s operations in Terengganu, Paka assemblyperson Zakaria @ Mohd Ariffin Abdullah said.

He said in the 70s before Petronas operated there, these areas were the fishing grounds for the fishermen there.

“When Petronas began operating there, these areas have been designated as a security area and local fishermen are prohibited to carry out any fishing activities there.

“This is a sacrifice from the fishermen for Petronas,” he said.

“Maybe Petronas which has billions of ringgit of profit a year, can extend some form of payment to them through the fishermen’s association as part of their corporate social responsibility.”

He was speaking to Bernama in Dungun attending Tenaga Nasional Berhad’s Baiti Jannati programme at Kampung Pinang Merah in Dungun.

Zakaria said there was no doubt that Petronas had contributed a lot especially to help improve education in Terengganu and that he thanked Petronas for that, but they would be grateful if some form of assistance can be extended to the fishermen.

There are between 300 to 400 fishermen in Paka and Kertih, he said.

- Bernama