Two more boats to beef up enforcement
SIBU: Sarawak Rivers Board ( SRB) will be acquiring two additional boats to beef up its enforcement along the rivers.
According to SRB controller William Jinep, the intended boats will be equipped with 200 twin horse power each for speed as they were also needed for searchand-rescue operations.
“We will be calling for tender soon for the acquisition. In addition to this, the government has agreed to give us more equipment – more boats for enforcement,” Jinep told The Borneo Post after the Gawai operation here recently.
He was asked if SRB would be acquiring new patrol boats this year. The second phase of the operation started yesterday and ends on June 7, while the first phase was from May 22 to 31.
Separately, National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (Niosh) chairman Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye was all for the appointment of an assistant minister to take charge of river transportation and safety. Assistant minister for river transportation and safety is Liwan Lagang.
“I think it’s important the ministry addresses the issue of water safety,” Lee said. This will at least put in place all requirements to make riverine transport safe.
On legislation, Jinep disclosed that a new law – Sarawak Licensed Small Ships Regulation - was being formulated to compel unregistered passenger- carrying longboats and speedboats to be registered and for the implementation of safety measures.
Jinep said if approved, they could regulate the operators whom they have no control over presently. On this, Lee hoped the new law could be applied to passengers on all boats.
Meanwhile, 30 additional boat trips were approved last Sunday alone to cater for the ‘ balik kampung’ crowd which swelled to nearly 8,000 people at Sibu Express Boat Terminal. The 30 trips comprised 28 trips upriver ( Sibu- Song-Kapit route) and two downriver ( Passin and Daro areas)
We will be calling for tender soon for the acquisition. In addition to this, the government has agreed to give us more equipment – more boats for enforcement. William Jinep, SRB controller