VETERAN fisherman Hashimi Hamzah, who lost his boat in a violent storm six months ago, had no plans to replace it due to the high cost.
But ahead of his 50th birthday on July 3, he received an unexpected gift — a brand-new boat that will allow him to return to the sea independently.
“I am happy. This is a very good and timely gift,” said a visibly emotional Hashimi during the handover ceremony in Nibong Tebal.
According to a press statement by Silicon Island Development Sdn Bhd, Hashimi was among six eligible fishermen from the southern part of Penang island who received new boats and engines under the Social Impact Management Plan (SIMP) scheme recently.
The others were Hamdan Bakar, 59; Mohd Fitri Che Ros, 46; Muhammad Hidayat Che Ros, 36; See Bak Chooi, 65; and Lai Poh Liang, 64.
Hashimi’s old boat – a 23-foot vessel powered by a 60-horsepower Mercury engine – had served him faithfully since 2002. Though small, it allowed him to venture far offshore, albeit at a slower pace.
“It could go far, but it was slow. And it did not have GPS or sonar like the newer boats,” he recalled.
“That boat was destroyed while docked during a sudden storm. “The waves were too strong. It broke apart and could no longer be used,” he said.
Since then, Hashimi has had to rely on other fishermen, working as a crew member just to earn a living.
“I couldn’t go out on my own anymore. I had to follow others to sea,” he said.
Now, with the new boat provided under the SIMP scheme, Hashimi is excited to be independent again.
“I have all my nets ready. With this new boat, I can finally go out by myself again. It is faster, safer, and I can go a bit further too,” he said.
Hashim, who lives in Sungai Batu, said though fishing has sustained his family, he does not encourage his children to follow in his footsteps.
“One of my children is studying at Universiti Malaysia Perlis (UniMAP), and the other is working at a factory as a trainee technician. I do not push them to become full-time fishermen. It is a tough life.”
He expressed heartfelt appreciation for the support.
“Thank you very much for providing this boat. It is not easy to afford one – just the boat and engine alone cost around RM80,000. I never imagined I would receive something like this,” he said.
As he turns 50 next month, Hashimi is looking forward to calmer seas and smoother journeys ahead.
For 59-year-old Hamdan Bakar, from Teluk Kumbar, the sea has been a lifelong companion. Having left school after Year 6, he briefly worked at a factory for a year before turning to fishing ever since.
Hamdan fishes alone and relies solely on the sea for his income. His old boat, a narrow 23-foot vessel, had served him for years but was limited in size and power.
With the new boat provided under the SIMP initiative, Hamdan now has a sturdier, slightly larger vessel and a renewed sense of hope.
“This one is a bit longer and wider. It’s a little more work because of the size, but maybe I can go further out now,” he said.
The gift is a major relief for Hamdan, who said he could never have afforded such a boat on his own.
“This really helps lighten the burden. If I had to come up with the money myself, I wouldn’t be able to do it. Honestly, I never dreamed of this. At most, I thought I could afford something with a 40-horsepower engine.
“This boat is far better. It makes a big difference for someone like me,” he added.
Hamdan, a father of two, said his son once joined him at sea but later chose to work in a factory.
“It’s a hard life, being a fisherman. If my children want to do something else, I support them,” he said.
For See, a fisherman with over 40 years of experience, the sea has been his livelihood and second home. But with his old, damaged boat no longer seaworthy, he had grown hesitant to venture far – until now.
“I am very happy. My old boat was small and already broken. I did not dare go out too far. Getting this new boat from the state government feels like changing to a new car,” he said with a wide smile.
Now equipped with a brand-new boat, See, from Gertak Sanggul, is once again ready to head into deeper waters in search of fish and prawns.
“With this boat, I can go out further and catch bigger fish. It makes a big difference for my work.”
More than just a personal upgrade, See sees the support as part of a bigger vision – one that aligns with Penang’s development, including the ongoing Silicon Island project.
“I am not worried about the development. We move forward together with the state’s progress. We must think of future generations,” he said.
Though he admits that, as a senior citizen, he may not live to see all the long-term impacts of development, he remains hopeful.
“We might not experience it ourselves, but we do and give what is best for the next generation. We want them to have a better life,” he added.
See believes that with proper planning, progress and sustainability can go hand in hand.
“With development, Penang can become a more sustainable state – one that balances growth with the needs of people and the environment,” he said.
Also expressing their joy were fellow recipients Lai, from Gertak Sanggul, as well as Mohd Fitri and Muhammad Hidayat from Sungai Batu.
Witnessing the handover ceremony were Silicon Island Development Sdn Bhd (SIDSB) strategic communications and stakeholder management director Azmi Mohamad and Penang Fisheries Department assistant officer Hasyaruddin Abdul Halim.
In a separate initiative, 13 fishermen successfully completed a three-day Outboard Engine Course held from June 10 to 12 at the Pusat Pengembangan dan Teknologi Perikanan Gelugor, under the Penang Fisheries Office.
The course, organised in collaboration with Koperasi Komuniti Pulau Pinang Selatan Berhad (KKPPSB), was led by experienced instructor Mohamad Yusri Yusoff, 47.
Designed to be practical and hands-on, the course equipped participants with essential skills in outboard engine maintenance – knowledge that could prove vital at sea.
Fisherman Lai Kean Cheong, 46, praised the initiative, saying it provided invaluable know-how.
“This knowledge is especially useful when we are stranded at sea due to engine problems. Now we can troubleshoot and carry out minor repairs ourselves,” he said.
Another participant, Abdul Jalil Zakaria, 53, from Teluk Tempoyak, expressed his gratitude to the organisers for offering such a valuable course to the fishing community.
“Training like this is not easy to come by. We truly appreciate it and hope more courses like this will be offered in the future,” he said.
Pix courtesy of Silicon Island Development