By Nabilah Saleh
SERDANG, Selangor: The National Fishermen’s Association (NEKMAT) plans to distribute about RM7 million in dividends, honorariums and staff bonus to its member associations nationwide following an encouraging financial performance last year.
Its general manager, Azrin Shah Ismail, said NEKMAT proposed declaring a 15 per cent dividend after recording a profit of more than RM25 million for the 2025 financial year.
“Insya-Allah, we will channel about RM7 million to members in dividends and honorariums to be shared with state and area fishermen’s associations,” he told BERNAMA at the Malaysia Agriculture, Horticulture and Agrotourism Exhibition (MAHA) 2026 here today.
Azrin Shah said between 45 and 50 per cent of the profit would be allocated to reserve, welfare and development funds as stipulated under the association’s Act and constitution.
He said the funds would be used, among other things, to provide free personal coverage schemes for coastal and traditional fishermen, as well as expand the association’s economic projects.
NEKMAT also allocates between RM3 million and RM4 million annually to provide soft loans to state and area fishermen’s associations to implement economic projects.
“The benefits from these economic projects can then be channelled back to fishermen who are members of the respective associations,” he said.
Additionally, Azrin Shah said NEKMAT was allocating RM500,000 to the Malaysian Fishermen’s Foundation (YANEM) this year to assist fishermen’s children with education, including admission to boarding schools and higher learning institutions.
The more than RM25-million profit recorded by NEKMAT in 2025 was more than double the approximately RM11 million recorded the previous year. – BERNAMA
