SIBU: Express boats were still operating as usual today (May 29), said Assistant Controller of the Sarawak Rivers Authority (LSS) Region II (Sibu) Hatta Morshidi.
However, he explained, the trips from Sibu-Kapit-Putai and Kapit-Sibu were only once a day.
“The Sibu-Kapit-Putai express boat will depart at 8 am from the Sibu Passenger Terminal while the Kapit-Sibu express boat will leave the Kapit Passenger Terminal at 10.30 am.
“So far we have not received any instructions to stop the boat trips during the movement control order (MCO),” he said when contacted today.
On the photo viralled by netizens on the social media last Friday (May 28) about a huge crowd at the Kapit Passenger Terminal, Hatta explained it was an old picture.
In the video, passengers were seen scrambling out of the express boats as soon as they arrived at the Kapit Passenger Terminal. They also did not practise social distancing.
The video had attracted the attention of many people including Deputy Chief Minister Tan Sri James Masing Jemut and Kapit MP Datuk Seri Alexander Nanta Linggi who regretted the situation when Covid-19 cases were still spreading.
Commenting further on the old video, Hatta said that the congestion happened because two express boats arrived from Putai simultaneously at the Kapit Passenger Terminal.
“The passengers were in the process of taking their belongings on the boats.
“Now, we follow the SOP which allows only carry 50 percent of passengers.
“The police, Rela and our enforcement personnel are there to monitor the situation at the terminals,” he added.
Hatta explained that many express boat operators had suspended their operations after the completion of the Sibu-Song-Kapit Road access last year and the increase in Covid-19 cases.
“It is an old photo and netizens are advised not to spread such photos as it can cause concern among the public,” he said.
On another development, he said the Sarawak Rivers Authority always ensured that boat passengers adhered to the standard operating procedures (SOPs) every time they disembarked and picked up their belongings.
Hatta also revealed that there were no requests from express boat operators for additional travel ahead of this Gawai Dayak festival.
