LAWAS: The Sarawak government is always committed to ensuring and providing a safe and comfortable river transport system for all including the shipping community.
Deputy Minister of Transport Datuk Henry Harry Jinep said that allocations are channelled by the government every year to the Sarawak Rivers Board (LSS) to carry out improvement and maintenance work on facilities including passenger terminals, landing jetties, navigation aids, port areas and so on.
“With the planning of the River Transport Safety campaign such as this morning’s ceremony, enforcement activities in the river and river banks as well as ongoing river safety education and awareness programmes for all river transport users, I am confident that the main function has been well achieved,” he said.
He said this when speaking at the Public Awareness on River Safety and Cleanliness programme here, recently.
He also said that there are still users and river transport boat operators who do not put safety as a priority.
“This situation has caused river accidents to continue to occur and result in the loss of life and property which should have been avoided,” he added.
Thus, he hopes that such a campaign can increase the awareness of all river transport users about the importance of personal and property safety when using river transport and understand that it is a shared responsibility.
