Lee Kim Shin: Strengthening Law Enforcement Supervision to Ensure River Safety

Miri, 10th -- Sarawak Minister of Transport Dato Sri Lee Kim Shin stated that river safety workshops and cleaning campaigns have become an annual routine activity in Sarawak, covering villages and inland areas. The aim is to enhance public awareness of river safety and cleanliness. The main target groups for these activities are school students and fishermen, especially residents in areas along the river where boats are frequently used, such as students commuting to school by sampan and communities relying heavily on river routes.
 
Lee pointed out that the Sarawak Ministry of Transport has allocated funds to support the Sarawak Rivers Board in distributing life jackets to boat operators and students from schools along the rivers. This initiative aims to reduce the risk of water transport accidents, particularly for groups using sampans during school commutes or travel, such as tourists to Mulu National Park and Bako National Park.

Additionally, the Sarawak Rivers Board is responsible for issuing river traffic permits to boat operators and requires them to undergo first aid training and examinations. He particularly emphasized that boat operators must strictly adhere to the approved capacity of the permits to avoid overloading and ensure all boats are equipped with life jackets for passenger use.

He made these remarks in an interview with the media after the opening ceremony of the "River Safety Workshop and Cleaning Campaign" yesterday.

He urged boat users, including students, boat operators, and tourists, to strictly follow safety regulations, particularly by wearing life jackets when crossing the river by sampan. He emphasized that this is not only a necessary measure to ensure personal safety but also a move to promote good safety awareness across society.

The Sarawak Rivers Board, as the regulatory body for river traffic, has law enforcement and supervisory powers to regularly inspect boat operators. If violations such as overloading or not equipping with life jackets are found, the Sarawak Rivers Board will issue fines according to the law. Moreover, the Sarawak Rivers Board pays special attention to the safety of tourists using sampans within national parks, ensuring that river crossings meet safety standards.

Lee reiterated that river safety is a shared responsibility of the whole society, and the Sarawak Ministry of Transport will continue to enhance public safety awareness through various measures while strengthening law enforcement to ensure the safety of all river users.