Passengers buying their tickets to go home for Gawai Dayak at Sibu Express Boat Terminal.
SIBU: Sarawak Rivers Board (SRB) yesterday refuted a claim in social media that an express boat was found not providing life jackets.
The same posting said the express boat had increased the fares.
SRB controller William Jinep said there was no way an express boat was permitted to leave the terminal if it failed to comply with safety requirements.
“We have implemented stringent safety measures. Our enforcement officers conduct pre-departure checks on the boats’ safety equipment.
“Therefore, what has been mentioned in Facebook is totally untrue,” he said.
On the photographs of a crowded express boat shown in the Facebook, he said they were old photographs.
Touching on the claim of fare hike for Sibu-Song route, he brushed this off as a baseless claim.
Jinep said with all the control measures in place, it was not possible for operators to hike their fares.
“Our men are keeping a close watch at the ticketing counter.
“Furthermore, in line with the ‘No Ticket, No Entry’ policy, we check the tickets before passengers are allowed into the departure area.”
He advised the public to approach SRB office if they had doubts on the fares.
He described the posting on social media as misleading and said it might cause anxiety among the public especially with the festive season nearing.