Rivers board urged to rein in errant boat operators

0

KAPIT: The relevant authorities such as Sarawak Rivers Board are urged to see to it that operators of express boats plying the Kapit-Sibu route do not fleece their passengers with the expected surge of passengers going for Gawai.

For most people  the Rajang River is the only means to travel between here and Sibu.

Commuters are however complaining that operators had increased the fares at their whims and fancy taking advantage of the huge number of people preparing to go home to celebrate Gawai and the apparent lack of monitoring by the relevant authority on the ground.

The express boat fare for travel between Kapit and Sibu is RM20 per person (economy), RM25 (business) and RM30 (first class) in cabins that are only separated by a wall.

The fares between Kapit and Song is RM10 (economy), RM12 (business) and RM15 for first class. For travel between Song and Sibu the fare is RM17 (economy), RM20 (business) and RM25 (first class).

However, these fares would rise during major festivals, especially Gawai.

During such period, express boats are usually so full they have to carry excess passengers with many sitting on roof tops.

A senior government officer from Song who did not wish to be named said he had a bad experience while trying to buy express boat ticket to Song at the Sibu Express Wharf terminal recently.

“The person at the counter told me the fare was RM30. Isn’t that cheating when the usual fare is RM17 or at most RM20?

“I went to another counter which offered the normal fare of RM17 (economy) or RM20 for business class. Just imagine cheating a senior government officer. What if I were a poor soul from the interior?

A community leader from Kapit who also wished anonymity said a counter clerk at the Kapit Express Passenger Terminal refused to sell him a ticket for a one way trip to Song.

“I wanted two tickets (and seats) for my wife and myself. The man refused to issue any. I was told to pay for the fare and just board the boat (without tickets). Without the ticket we had to stand all the way to Song.

“The relevant authority should go to the ground to monitor the situation and see to it that no one is cheated. If you have to, try to act as passengers and seen what reception you get from these people.”

Another commuter to Song (from here) complained of being denied a seat, saying priority was given to passengers going all the way to Sibu.

He said the counter clerk told him ‘if you want, buy a ticket to Sibu at RM20 or RM25 per person and you can sit down all the way to Song’.

Another passenger only identified as Jonathan said that the SRB needed to beef up security especially during unloading and loading to avoid any untoward incident.

“We need to learn from our previous lesson in Song early this year when a passenger fell from the express boat due to a collision between two express boats.

“If the agency concerned is facing shortage of staff then they should request for more back-up personnel,” he said.