KUALA TERENGGANU- INTRAVENOUS drug use, overdose deaths and cases of sexually-transmitted diseases have reached alarming levels among fishermen in Terengganu.
At least one dead body is found every month by fishermen in the district of Dungun in Terengganu.
The bodies of drug addicts are discovered in fishing vessels, at fishermen jetties and floating at the sea. There have also been cases where bodies were found entangled in fishing nets with syringes still stuck to the stiff limbs.
A recent Tenaganita study carried out in collaboration with the Malaysian AIDS Council (MAC) and the Centre of Excellence for Research in AIDS (CERiA) with the support of WWF-Malaysia revealed a worrying prevalence of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) cases among fishermen.
The study found that many of them had contracted HIV through the sharing of syringes and unsafe sexual practices.
Out of 127 fishermen surveyed, 37 admitted to using drugs within the last 30 days. More than half of the respondents (56 per cent) said they had never used condoms during penetrative sex with their primary partner, while 16 fishermen said they had had intercourse with sex workers.
Terengganu Fishermen Association chairman Mat Yassin Mohamed told the New Sunday Times that most of the fishermen who were addicted to drugs would satisfy their cravings after returning from the sea.
“They are so engrossed with their addiction that drugs are their world.
“This problem is common at most fishermen jetties in Terengganu, but the scenario at the jetty in Kuala Dungun is the worst.
“You will find them taking drugs near the jetty or inside vessels berthed at the river mouth.
“I was told that the authorities had given up on them because confining them at rehabilitation centres might worsen the situation, as they might spread HIV to other inmates.”
The easy availability of drugs such as methamphetamine and amphetamine, believed to be smuggled from neighbouring countries, has also contributed to the rising number of drug abuse cases in the fishing community.
Fisherman Hamed Hamzah Awang, 58, said drugs could also be obtained from foreign fishermen on the high seas.
“I heard reports about local fishermen sourcing their supply of illegal drugs from foreign fishing vessels.”
He said some of his friends had trawled up more than just fish from the water.
“Sometimes, a dead body is found entangled in their nets with syringes still attached to the body. Such cases are not uncommon.
“When this happens, the dead body will be thrown back into the sea to prevent any diseases from contaminating their vessels,” he said.
South Kuala Terengganu Fishermen Association chairman Hassan Ismail said Telok Raja in Pulau Redang was once a notorious transit point for foreign fishing vessels that brought drugs into the country.
To those who were not in the know, he said, it would appear as if the foreign fishing vessels were merely docking in Telok Raja to transfer fish from smaller boats to their vessels.
“While this was taking place, illegal drugs were unloaded from their vessels.
“The drugs were distributed across the country.
“I am not sure whether it is still prevalent, but the fact remains that foreigners will always find ways to smuggle drugs into our country.”
He said the problem had been raised numerous times at the association’s annual general meetings.
“Action has been taken to curb the problem and drug abuse among fishermen at the Pulau Kambing and Chendering jetties is now under control,” he said- NST
