Bagan Datuk: Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi has called for deep-sea resource harvesting licences under the Bagan Datuk International Fishery Industrial Park (BDIFIP) to be awarded to local communities, especially those from Perak. Ahmad Zahid, who is also the Minister of Rural and Regional Development, emphasized the importance of involving local operators in the RM2 billion project to ensure equitable distribution of benefits.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Ahmad Zahid suggested that the Fisheries Department collaborate with Menteri Besar Incorporated (MB Inc) to identify potential local operators eligible for the licences. He also expressed his commitment to working with financial institutions to provide assistance or loans to eligible fishermen, aiming for a fair share of benefits between foreign investors and the local community.

“This is how we create balance, so that Malaysians, especially those in Perak, are not left with just low-paying jobs of RM1,700, watching others benefit from the project,” he stated at the BDIFIP pre-launch ceremony. He highlighted the need for fair wages, particularly for skilled workers and those holding the Malaysian Skills Certificate (SKM), to prevent exploitation.

During the event, Ahmad Zahid witnessed the exchange of an agreement between MB Inc. Perak and Younchang Engineering and Construction (M) Sdn Bhd, along with the signing of a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) between Younchang Engineering and MingCheng Group Co Ltd. These agreements aim to foster broader international collaboration in the project’s investment ecosystem.

Earlier, Perak Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Saarani Mohamad announced that the BDIFIP project, involving investments exceeding RM2 billion, will be developed in phases starting in 2027 across a 126.4-hectare site. The project is anticipated to transform Bagan Datuk into an international seafood trading hub.