LIMBANG: A boat operator, Mohd Samzrul Talap, 21 dreams of having a larger vessel to bring more passengers to Brunei from Limbang Town.
AIMING HIGHER: Samzrul talking to BAT while cruising the Limbang River with a picturesque Limbang town in the background. — Photo by Chimon Upon.
Furthermore he has no other choice as he just got married to his longtime sweetheart last December,
“I had to become a boat operator as soon as I completed my SPM to support my mother who had just divorced my father. Furthermore I like what I am doing,” Samzrul told BAT while cruising on his boat plying the Limbang River here yesterday.
He said life was bearable as he could make at least RM50 a day by ferrying passengers to and from Kpg Seberang Kedai to Limbang town, which is just opposite the river bank.
On good days such as Fridays and weekends, he could easily make more than RM60 a day.
“I normally charge 50 sen per passenger crossing the river and for those who would like to cruise the river and to have a good view of the town, I would normally charge RM2 per person,” he disclosed.
Samzrul said getting started as a boat operator wasn’t that cheap as he has to fork out at least RM3,800 for a new boat and RM3,000 for his second hand 40-horse power outboard engine.
A brand new 40-horse power outboard engine would cost him at least RM9,200.
“But I do have a dream that one day I would be able to get a much bigger speedboat so that I can ferry more passengers from Limbang to Brunei,” he quipped with a sparkle in his eyes.
Samzrul revealed that currently the boat operators from Limbang would charge at least RM70 per trip to Brunei with a capacity of 10 passengers.
To get a bigger boat, he would also have to apply for the necessary permits and licences from the relevant authorities.
Currently there are at least 12 other boat operators plying the same route.
So they would take their turns to ferry their passengers crossing the 200-metre river.
On a typical day, Samzrul would get at least RM90 and after paying for the benzene, he would get a nett profit of RM50.
A gallon of benzene now is priced at RM8.
“On a busy day I would use up to nine gallons of benzene as I need to rush my passengers who wish to perform their Friday prayers and going to the market,” he revealed.