SIBU: Buses are giving express boat operators a run for their money as people, especially natives celebrating Gawai Dayak, begin heading out to their longhouses.
Commuters appear to favour the bus option especially with the completion of the 110km Sibu-Song-Kapit Road.
Unlike previous years the Express Boat Terminal which is usually packed with people returning to their longhouses in Kapit and Song at this time of the year is now quiet and all but empty.
The Express Bus Terminal however tells a different story with bus tickets to Kapit almost sold out the past few days.
Sarawak Bus Transport Company Association adviser, Lau Khing Seng said the buses were between 80 to 90 per cent full on May 28 to 30.
“With the Gawai celebration, I believe the buses will be packed,”he reckoned, adding that three bus companies are operating multiple trips on the sector.
“We are sticking to the RM22 fare for each person despite being the festive season. We cannot do more trips as the road is narrow. There are also a lot of turnings where buses have to turn 45 degrees in some places. This is too dangerous,” he said.
He hoped the authority would widen the road to ensure greater safety.
But although a lot of people have switched from express boat to bus after the completion of the Sibu-Song-Kapit Road, some are still loyal to the boat express service.
Unfortunately, the express boat operators are sticking to one trip a day, thus leaving many no choice but to use the ‘van sapu’ service which cost them RM35 per trip.
According to Jennifer Moses, 32, who was met by New Sarawak Tribune while waiting for a ‘van sewa’ in front of the express boat terminal she prefers express boats and the van service compared to the bus as the bus terminal is located far from the town centre.
“If taking the bus, I need to travel down to the city by van. It is easier for us to stop at the express boat terminal.
“Apart from that, it is also difficult for us to carry our belongings and Gawai celebration stuff as we have to unload and load.
“We choose to buy all the Gawai goodies here because we have more choice here compared to Kapit. I hope the bus will pass by and pick us up at the city center,” she said.
As for another woman who did not wish to be identified, she was waiting for her family to pick her up and travel back together to Kapit unlike before when they used the express boat.
“I am from Miri, now I am waiting for my relative to pick me up and travel together back to Kapit. This is the first time we are going back to Kapit for Gawai after the pandemic,” she said.
