8,000 people use express boat daily for Gawai celebration

SIBU: About 8,000 people are expected to use the express boat service from Sibu Express Boat Terminal daily to return home for Gawai Day celebration on June 1 and 2.

Based on 2016 statistics, some 4,000 people would get down at Song and Kapit while another 2,000 would continue the journey up to Belaga district.

Sarawak River Board (SRB) chairman Dr Murni Suhaili said they would give immediate approval to express boat operators who want to offer additional trips to meet the high demand.

“Boat operators only need to fill out Form 10P (Application for additional Trip) at the nearest SRB office,” he said in a statement in conjunction with the launch of the River Transport Safety Campaign by Minister of Transport Datuk Dr. Jerip Susil at Sibu Express Boat Terminal, here yesterday.

The river board was ready to enforce the law assisted by the Marine Department, the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency, the police, the Department of Volunteers, the Civil Defence Force and the Ministry of Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs.

The enforcement will focus, among others, to compliance with the load limit; the boat permit policy of ‘No Ticket, No Entry’; the life jackets and the approved fares.

Express boat operators who break the law can be fined up to RM5,000.