ALOR SETAR: Ten tour boat operators based at the Teluk Baru Jetty in Langkawi have been provided with squid-catching equipment by the Langkawi Development Authority (Lada) to help them venture into a new economic field.

       Lada chief executive officer Nasaruddin Abdul Muttalib said the agency allocated RM30,000 for the programme with each tour boat operator getting squid-catching equipment worth RM3,000.

       The programme was held in collaboration with Langsura Geopark Sdn Bhd as an initiative to help those in the tourism industry whose livelihood had been affected by the Covid-19 pandemic.

       “It is hoped that this assistance will help the affected tour boat operators continue to earn a living,” Nasaruddin said in a statement yesterday.

       He said the programme was introduced under the Langkawi Economic Blueprint (Helang), where a special allocation of RM3mil was approved by the Lada board of directors in the middle of last year.

       To date, more than 500 people have benefited from Helang, comprising those in the tourism industry such as taxi drivers, tour guides, cultural artistes and petty traders. — Bernama