KOTA BARU: Some 140 fishermen at Pantai Sabak have two things to worry every monsoon season.
Apart from losing their source of income for almost four months due to high waves and rough seas rendering them incapable of going fishing, they worry about damages to their traditional boats.
The boats mostly made of Chengal wood, are left at the jetty.
Weighing between four and five tonnes, these boats are considered as "valuable assets" for these fishermen as they cost between RM20,000 and RM40,000 each.
According to Pantai Sabak Fishermen Organisation head Nik Ruzulaili Nik Yusof, the recent prediction about the upcoming rainy season prompted fishermen to move their boats to a safer place.
"It is normal for us everytime we hear the weather forecast, we will 'gotong-royong' (work together) to pull the boats one by one from the jetty to higher ground.
"This is to prevent the boats from suffering damages if they are left at the jetty during rough waters," he said.
Speaking to reporters when met at the village after leading the operation to move the boats yesterday, Nik Ruzulaili said currently, there were about 34 traditional boats operating at the fishing village.
"The operation started last Tuesday and so far, we have managed to move 28 boats to higher ground. The remaining boats will be moved soon," he said.
He added the 28 boats that have already been moved to safety included one that was about 100 years old, worth about RM22,000.
He said these boats were important to the fishermen because a majority of them have been relying on fishing as their source of income for many generations.
"They must take care of the boats properly so that it can continue to be used and possibly passed on to their children," he added.
On the fishermen's activities to fill their time during the monsoon season, he said some of them would become labourers or carpenters while others remained jobless.
"During their free time, they will either repaint or repair their boats," he said.