KUCHING – With immediate effect, a Sarawak Public Works Department (JKR) officer will be stationed at every ferry point in the state to monitor daily ferry operations, said Assistant Infrastructure and Port Development Minister Datuk Haji Julaihi Narawi.
He said the standard operating procedures (SOPs) at the 12 ferry points will be tightened by allowing only the driver to remain in the vehicle while passengers have to alight and be seated in a special area.
“We already have the SOPs in place, but we (government) want to tighten it to improve safety for ferry passengers. Among the measures is placing warning signs at the operation zone, steel barriers along the path to board the ferry, and regular safety announcements.
“Apart from this, every ferry passenger will be provided with a life jacket, which will be made compulsory to be worn onboard,” he added.
He said this after chairing a meeting on enhancing safety measures at jetties with the state JKR, Sarawak Rivers Board and ferry operators from all over the state.
The meeting was held in the wake of Friday’s incident in Sri Aman, where a four-wheel drive rolled off the Triso ferry point platform and plunged into Sg Batang Lupar, killing all nine people in the vehicle.
Julaihi said that in two weeks’ time, JKR will start conducting checks at every ferry point to ensure compliance with the new SOPs as many motorists use the Sarawak coastal road as an alternative to the Pan Borneo Highway.
He said that every month, an average of 48,000 vehicles travel along the coastal road, which requires the use of ferries along the way.
Seven of the 12 ferry points in Sarawak operate along the coastal road while the rest are located in other areas. – Bernama, January 4, 2021
