LIMBANG, 12 July – The Sarawak Rivers Board (SRB) and United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is improving the use of 55 rivers in Sarawak as a viable and integral form of transport in rural areas.
In line with the government’s strategy, it is implementing a two pronged River Community Safety awareness campaign to educate local communities, who use the waterways as a means of transport, sustenance and a source of income.
The campaign aims to avoid accidents & fatalities on the water, increase mobility and access to the rural areas that may enhance tourism and long term economic opportunities.
From 2000 to 2006, there were 318 reported casualties on the water in Sarawak, where common causes cited for casualties include inadequate navigational aids & signage, negligence and lack of proper safety training & awareness among boat captains as well as passengers
There are 55 navigable rivers throughout the state spanning a combined length of 3300 km. For some Limbang residents, the rivers are the only means of transport to ferry children to school and the nearest hospital is more than 30 minutes away from the villages.
The River Community Safety Campaign is also an opportunity for the SRB to gear up for their role in overseeing the logistics and safety of the upcoming international sporting event, the Sarawak Regatta in Kuching in September.
“We want everyone to start with knowing how to use them safely. With this campaign, we hope to equip participants with the knowledge of how to prevent accidents, recognize emergencies and respond effectively,”
“This should prevent the tragedy that occurred in Betong only late last month, where two children perished, is not repeated,” Dr. Ismail said.
As part of the campaign, UNDP and SRB will host an Emergency First Response (EFR) course to cover all aspects of safety on the river, from accident management to responding during emergencies.
“The course is essential to protect the people who rely on rivers as we want them to make safe choices,” said Dr. Chung Tsung-Ping, Assistant Resident Representative of UNDP Malaysia.
“During emergency, knowledge of CPR is crucial and can be determining factor between life and death.”
To drive youth participation, school-going children will be sponsored by the Professional Association of Diving Instructors (PADI) to be trained and certified in EFR.
Historically, the rivers of Sarawak have been the main, and often the only, means of transporting passengers and goods in both urban and rural areas.
There are 55 navigable rivers throughout the state spanning a combined length of 3300 km.
The aim of the project is to formulate a Masterplan that will enhance the development of Sarawak's waterways as a viable and sustainable infrastructure network, increasing mobility and access to the rural areas, enhancing opportunities for tourism and providing for profitable, long-term economic activities.
The Master Plan will cover the period to 2020 and will also incorporate a five-year Action Plan that will be implemented by the SRB. For more information on the project, please visit http://www.undp.org.my/
