As per reports, as of Monday (06 January), nearly 200 members of the Sarawak Fishing Vessel Association (SFVA) across Sarawak have suspended operations for a week, starting from Saturday (04 January). The protest, led by SFVA Chairman, aims to oppose the Fisheries Department’s policies, specifically the Malaysian government’s mandate for Mobile Tracking Units (MTU) on Class C fishing vessels.

Further on Monday (06 January), the local Minister of Tourism, Arts, and Culture called for a dialogue between the authorities and fishermen to address concerns and find an appropriate solution. The minister warned that if the protest remains unresolved, the protest could severely disrupt Sarawak’s food supply chain, particularly with the Chinese New Year approaching, potentially leading to higher fish prices due to anticipated shortages.