SIBU: The Sarawak Rivers Board (LSS) will deploy 115 personnel along with 15 boats to intensify monitoring and enforcement of river transport safety during the Hari Raya Aidilfitri celebration and the first-term school holidays of 2026.
Its chairman Dr Safiee Ahmad said the move was taken in anticipation of an increase in the use of river transportation during the festive season and school holidays compared to normal days.
“During this period, many people are expected to return to their hometowns and use river transport, therefore safety monitoring will be intensified,” he was quoted as saying in an UKAS report during the River Safety Campaign in conjunction with Aidilfitri and the First-Term School Holidays for the 2026 session here today (Mar 16).
According to him, the enforcement operation will be carried out in two phases — the first from Mar 18 to 20, while the second phase is scheduled from Mar 27 to 29, ahead of the reopening of the school session on Mar 30.
He stressed that the enforcement efforts are not solely aimed at issuing compounds, but rather to emphasise raising awareness and ensuring compliance with safety requirements among river transport operators and users.
In this regard, he reminded boat operators not to carry passengers beyond the permitted capacity despite the expected surge in demand during the festive season.
As a solution, he said boat operators may apply to LSS to increase the frequency of trips to accommodate the higher number of passengers instead of risking overloading.
Commenting on fare-related issues, Dr Safiee stressed that boat operators are not allowed to arbitrarily increase fares, and members of the public may lodge complaints with LSS if any violations occur.
He added that operators found guilty may face action under Section 34(2) of the Sarawak Rivers Ordinance 1993, which provides for a fine of up to RM5,000, imprisonment of up to two years, or both.
During the event, Dr Safiee also presented life jackets and subsidised RON95 petrol fleet cards to passenger boat operators.
