Henry fielding questions from reporters.
KUCHING (May 15): Dato Henry Harry Jinep supports the recent proposal for public-listed palm oil companies to use their own ferries to transport Fresh Fruit Bunches (FFB) across rivers.
The Sarawak Deputy Transport Minister said this would enhance the safety of other commuters because the trucks transporting FFB were heavily loaded.
He noted palm oil companies at Pulau Bruit use their own ferries for transporting FFB to ensure the safety of the public using ferries to cross the river.
“We should place the safety of everyone above all. If heavily loaded trucks use the ferry provided, it may pose risks to other ferry users,” he said when met by reporters during the Hari Raya Aidilfitri open house hosted by Utility and Telecommunication Minister Datuk Julaihi Narawi at a hotel here yesterday.
Henry said he was all for the proposal by Deputy Minister in the Premier of Sarawak’s Department (Integrity and Ombudsman) Datuk Datuk Juanda Jaya, who said palm oil companies should operate their own ferry.
He pointed out that the ferry service is under the jurisdiction of the Transport Ministry, which is responsible for the safety of people using the river transport.
Henry added it would be up to the top management of the ministry to decide on implementing the proposal and stakeholders such as palm oil companies would have to be engaged in discussion.
Recently, Juanda suggested that public-listed palm oil companies should come up with their own ferry transportation, especially in the Matu and Igan area where FFB have to be transported across wide rivers by ferries, to avoid causing long queues at the ferry ramps.