Enhancing River Safety and Cleanliness Awareness Lee Kim Shin: Reducing Tragedies

Miri, 9th -- Sarawak's Minister of Transport Dato Sri Lee Kim Shin stated that according to statistics from the Sarawak Rivers Board, 26 accidents affecting 159 people occurred on rivers throughout Sarawak last year, resulting in 10 unfortunate fatalities. River accidents continue to be frequent this year, including a boat capsizing incident in October and a student river crossing accident in August at Kampung Selampit, Lundu.

“These tragic events remind us of the necessity to enhance river traffic safety management. For this purpose, the Ministry of Transport, through workshops and promotional activities, is spreading knowledge of first aid, cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), and fire-fighting skills to river users.”

Lee pointed out that to strengthen river traffic management, the Sarawak Ministry of Transport has started implementing various infrastructure improvement projects, including the installation of Aids to Navigation (AtoNs) and Vessel Traffic Management System (VTMS).

“In addition, we plan to introduce smart monitoring technology, providing real-time traffic data for rivers and coastal areas to optimize vessel navigation safety. These measures not only improve safety but also enhance Sarawak's attractiveness to maritime-related investors.”

To promote river traffic safety and water environment cleanliness, Sarawak Minister of Transport Dato Sri Lee Kim Shin presided over the opening ceremony of the "River Safety Workshop and Clean-up Campaign" at Pullman Hotel Miri today.

In his speech, Lee stated that the event, co-organized by the River and Maritime Department of the Sarawak Ministry of Transport and the Sarawak Rivers Board, aims to raise awareness of river traffic safety, provide emergency skill training for vessel operators and river users, and promote responsibility for river cleanliness.

He noted that Miri, as a hub for river traffic and tourism, has a significant role, explaining the choice of location for the event.

“Many residents in Miri rely on rivers as the main medium for transportation and economic activities such as industrial transport, fishing, and tourism. Additionally, the use of river traffic has been gradually increasing in recent years, especially with the rapid development of the tourism industry, further highlighting the importance of river safety and cleanliness.”

He called on the community and various stakeholders to actively participate in actions for river cleanliness and safety.

“Rivers are a shared resource; keeping them clean and safe not only improves the quality of life but is also an important part of building a sustainable society. I hope that through this event, we can jointly create a safer and cleaner waterway environment.”

He announced the official launch of the "River Safety Workshop and Clean-up Campaign" in his speech and thanked all participating units for their support and cooperation.