SIBU: The thousands of people rushing home by boat for Christmas should wear life jackets.
The thousands of people who would be involved in the ‘balik kampung’ rush today to celebrate Christmas have been advised to wear life jackets when using express boats.
National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) chairman Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye said he believed that despite the inconvenience, life jackets could help protect the passengers.
“The message is simple – think safe and travel safe. And by that I mean both operators and passengers need to take precautionary measures to make safety a priority.
“Many people do not like to wear life jackets as it may be inconvenient or cumbersome inside express boats. But in the worst case scenario – should a boat capsize – passengers will have a better chance of survival if they have life jackets on,” Lee told The Borneo Post yesterday.
He added that the jackets would certainly come in handy for passengers who do not know how to swim, adding that the river current could be very swift at present due to the rainy season.
Meanwhile, Sibu Resident Sim Kok Kee figured it might not be practical for passengers to wear life jackets throughout the whole journey as this might be a hassle and cause inconvenience for them.
“But it will be good for those who cannot swim to wear life jackets.”
Speaking to reporters at Sibu Express Boat Terminal yesterday, he believed that the express boat operators were taking proactive steps to safeguard the safety of their passengers, such as making available life jackets inside the express boats.
The Sarawak River Board (SRB), he added, was also monitoring the situation closely.
Turning to the skippers, Lee reminded them not to speed and to provide safety information to passengers while on board.
“In doing so, passengers will not panic and know what to do should a mishap occur.”
Lee also reminded operators against overloading as this would jeopardise the safety of their passengers.
“Passengers should also abide by the rules and should not overcrowd the boat.”
Lee believed that the long term approach should be based on the principle of self-regulation, rather than depending on the authorities to conduct inspections.
He noted while river transport remained chiefly the primary means of transportation here, safety must be given top priority.
“People, while planning for the trip, should also plan for their safety as things can happen unexpectedly along the way.”
Meanwhile, the crowd at the terminal is expected to swell to between four and five thousand today.
Source: www.TheBorneoPost.com
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