Minister to help express boat operators apply for subsidised fuel, relaxation for skid tank usage

The state government is not giving out any fuel subsidy to express boat operators, says Deputy Minister of Transport II Dato Henry Harry Jinep.

However, the ministry would help them in the application for subsidised diesel and also relaxation for skid tank usage, he said.

This would be done through the Ministry of Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs (KPDNHEP), the Marine Department, the Customs Department, and Sarawak Rivers Board (SRB), he added.

Henry also said the ministry, through SRB, had on April 29 held a dialogue with the express boat operators where they discussed issues that they were facing.

“Based on that session, the main issue faced (by them) was the increased cost of operations and usage of skid tank.

“In this regard, they requested for help from the government to overcome them (problems).

“Thus, express boat operators are urged to submit their applications for subsidised diesel and relaxation for the skid tank usage to the KPDNHEP,” he said in answering Batu Danau assemblyman Paulus Palu Gumbang during the questionanswer session at the State Legislative Assembly sitting on Friday.

Henry, who is Tasik Biru assemblyman, pointed out that the subsidised diesel would help reduce the operation costs, which should benefit the passengers at the same time.

On another matter, he said with Brunei delaying the reopening of its borders to this May 31, this had adversely affected the mobility of the people in Limbang and Lawas who had to use the land route passing Brunei’s Temburong District. In this matter, he viewed the water route as being viable in connecting Limbang and Lawas, aside from the air service provided by MASwing.

Currently, the water transport service for the Limbang-Lawas sector is provided by Express Ratu Pertama No 2 and Ekspress Pertama Limbang, where the oneway fares are RM35 per adult and RM20 per child.