Formation
(1) An Area Fishermen’s Association may be formed in accordance with this Act or any regulations made thereunder.
(2) Any two or more Area Fishermen’s Associations registered in accordance with this Act may with the approval of the Registrar confederate into one State Fishermen’s Association.
(3) Any two or more State Fishermen’s Associations registered in accordance with this Act may, with the approval of the Registrar, confederate into a National Fishermen’s Association.
*NOTE—Act 287, Sabah Ord. No. 3 of 1958 and Sarawak Cap. 66 have been repealed— see section 95 Co-operative Societies Act 1993 [Act 502].
Prohibition
No Area, State or National Fishermen’s Associations shall carry on business unless it is formed and registered in accordance with this Act.
Objects of Fishermen’s Associations
(1) A Fishermen’s Association may be formed with the object or objects of promoting the economic and social interests or well being of its members and shall have the power to do all things necessary to achieve the objects and in particular, but without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing, it shall have the power—
(a) to manage and operate financial aid scheme to provide credit and capital resources to members;
(b) to promote member education and training including circulation of information on matters of interest to members;
(c) to organize exhibition, fairs and displays;
(d) to organize fishing operation or aquaculture; the assembling, storage, processing, distribution and disposal of members’ products;
(e) to provide health centres, nurseries, thrift institutions, insurance, mutual aid and other welfare programmes;
(f) to assist in investigations and the collection of statistics of the fishing industry;
(g) to provide buoys and other navigation aids and fishing harbour facilities;
(h) to mediate in disputes involving a member or members arising in the fishing industry;
(i) to organize the participation of members in any programmes for the conservation of fishery resources;
(j) to operate and provide transportation facilities to enhance fish marketing activities and related activities;
(k) to provide marketing, storage, drying, warehousing and other facilities; and
(l) to facilitate capital formation and investment among members through the establishment of companies or equity participation in trading and business ventures.
(2) Notwithstanding the powers conferred by subsection (1), a Fishermen’s Association shall not establish any company or participate in the equity of any trading or business ventures without the prior written approval of the Registrar, and the Registrar may, in giving such approval, impose any condition he deems fit.
(3) Without prejudice to the powers conferred upon the Registrar in subsection (2), the Registrar may, by order in writing, limit, impose conditions on or regulate the powers of any Fishermen’s Association to ensure efficiency in, and to avoid duplication of, the functions of such Fishermen’s Association.
(4) Any person who is dissatisfied with any order of the Registrar under subsection (2) or (3) may appeal to the Minister within thirty days of such order and the Minister may confirm, vary or revoke such order; and the decision of the Minister shall be final and shall not be called in question in any Court.
