SIBU: There are between 300 and 500 boats and ships plying 35 rivers in Sarawak daily. Deputy Chief Minister Tan Sri Datuk Amar Dr James Jemut Masing said this at Sarawak Rivers Board’s (SRB) 25th anniversary celebration in a hotel here on Monday night.
Masing who is also Minister of Infrastructure Development and Transportation added that these rivers with a total length of approximately 5,000 kms out of which 3,500 kms is navigable, carrying passengers and commercial goods between cities and towns like Kuching, Sibu, Bintulu and Miri and enroute towns especially during festive periods and school holidays.
“Last year alone, the total passengers recorded commuting by rivers increased by one million to a staggering three million passengers. Five years ago it was two million passengers,” he said.
Among the functions of the SRB, he said are to develop and upgrade the Riverine Transportation System in Sarawak, regulate and enforce traffic in the rivers, provide and maintain wharves and terminals and navigational facilities.
In regards to environment and riverbanks’ protection, Masing said SRB is also actively enforcing them to ensure the best management is being implemented.
“The works and responsibilities entrusted are huge tasks to shoulder. Among the challenges faced during the execution of the works in managing riverine transportation safety is the unpredictability of tidal effects.
“The scenario and circumstances may worsen during heavy rain and high water phenomenon. Dry spells will also affect the movements of boats especially cascading water zone. In addition, boat capacity and cost of operation also add to the challenges which SRB has to give attention to,” he said.
Meanwhile, since its formation, he said SRB has endeavour to upgrade most facilities which were handed over to it to cater to the needs of river transportation.
In the early period, he said SRB has planned and built new passengers terminals in major towns where these towns are the gateways to rural areas. He said the new facilities served as more comfortable platforms for boarding and disembarking passengers.
“Since then, especially in 2000, strategic development plans were implemented to achieve the objectives of safe river transportation.
“These objectives are achievable through sustainable development and quality services to optimise usage of the rivers for domestic, commercial and recreational purposes. River development is very important as a Sarawak heritage for the future generations,” he said. In order to improve the safety of the river transportation, Masing said SRB has set its target for a zero accident.
To attain such a high standard, he said the public as commuters and other users are reminded to give their full cooperation to SRB.
He also advised river users to change their mind set and to have the mentality of a first class society.
“A very good example is passengers will not be boarding a boat with excess passengers without being requested to do so by enforcers from SRB.
“On the other hand, boat operators must also refrain from just focusing on profits but instead to focus more on the safety factors of the business,” he said.
Among those present was SRB controller, Richard Tajan.
