Fishermen in Perak extend strike

Fishermen in Perak will continue their strike for another week despite the government agreeing to reduce the price of subsidised diesel and petrol to RM1.30 per litre.
Pantai Remis assemblyman Nga Kor Ming said the strike would continue following the fishermen's unhappiness at not getting the RM1.00 per litre that had wanted.
The strike, which started last Friday and planned for three days, reportedly involved some 45,000 fishermen from seven states.
On Saturday, Agriculture and Agro-based Industry Minister Datuk Mustapa Mohamed said with the new price, the Government would bear and additional susidy of about RM197 mil annually.
Nga, who is also state education, local government committee chairman, claimed that the market price for fish had gone up by 30% since the strike.
"I call on the federal Government to reduce the price immediately before further damage is done," he said in a statement yesterday.
Of the 4,000 vessels in Perak, about 2,500 use diesel.
Boats of about 40 tonnes and above use betwen 6,000 litres and 8,000 litres of petrol for a week-long trip.