KAPIT: It makes one wonder how two or more parties can come to an understanding through a dialogue session meant “to get better understanding” if one side does not even bother to show up.

That was what happened last Wednesday at a dialogue session held here by the Sarawak Rivers Board (SRB).

Held from 2.30pm to 5pm in the conference room of Beletih State Complex, the dialogue was supposed to be between operators of express boats plying the Sibu-Kapit and Kapit-interior routes, governmental authorities and non-governmental organisations (NGOs).

Only one of the 18 express boat operators bothered to turn up, and he was only identified by his surname, Tey.

Larry who is also Assistant Minister of Industrial Development both chaired and moderated the exchange of questions and opinions.

In the end the dialogue was mainly between the relevant governmental bodies and whoever happened to be in attendance.

Among the attendees were some SRB officials led by their controller Muhamad Yakup Kar and his deputy Teo Swee Ann, Acting Resident Emang Oyo Emang, District Officer Simon Japut Tiok, district police chief DSP Entusa Iman, Marine Department officers, divisional heads of other government departments, Temenggong Sng Chee Eng, Pemanca Badi Nuawi, Penghulu Satem Morshiden, chairman of Sarawak Dayak Iban Association (Sadia) Kapit, Edward Manggah; Kapitan Yong Thu Fook and Micky Ngu Kong Siong who represented the Kapit Chinese Chamber of Commerce (KCCC).

Larry said following the June 5 fuel price hike, he received numerous complaints against express boat operators who imposed exorbitant increase in transportation charges although their diesel was subsidised by the government.

He took pains to point out that the important thing was not to point fingers at anybody, but to gather information and opinions in order to get a clearer picture and create a win-win situation for all concerned.

“I will bring up the matter to the state government because it affects our everyday activities. Meanwhile, please co-operate with the Sarawak Rivers Board,” he said.

The freight charges of goods transported by express boats and passengers’ safety dominated the dialogue session throughout.

Locals were dismayed when express boat operators recently hiked the transportation charges for goods.

For example, the transport fee for a parcel or letter went up from RM3 to RM4, 14.5kg cooking gas cylinder – RM5 to RM6 (20 per cent increase), one 10kg bag of rice – RM3 to RM4, one gunny sack of sugar (75kg) – RM7 to RM19, motorcycle – RM25 to RM30, one bag frozen chicken – RM12 to RM15, egg – RM1.50 to RM2 and settee – RM25 to RM30.

Yakup said freight charges were as stipulated by the Sarawak Rivers Board Ordinance 1996 which regularises the rate for goods transported by express boats.

He explained that goods that were allowed to be transported by express boats included frozen food, livestock, cooking gas, settee, electrical appliances, and fruits such as ‘buah dabai’ and durian from Kapit and Song to Sibu.

He said as the fuel for express boats was subsidised there was no reason to increase freight charges. In this light, he proposed that within a month the KCCC and express boat operators would propose charges for cargo for submission to his office for consideration before being forwarded to the state government.

Emang, who stressed the importance of boats to towns in upper Batang Rajang due to the lack of roads, was concerned over the safety of express boat passengers.

Hence he urged the SRB to enforce its regulations strictly at points of disembarkation and arrival.

He also wanted express boats and cargo vessels plying between Kapit and up-river destinations like Putai, Baleh and Belaga to limit their speeds because of the potential danger they pose to small boats.

Then he requested the SRB to remove sunken boats from the river as they hamper navigation particularly at night.

On the high cost of goods here, Simon said one of the main contributing factors was costly transportation charges.

“In order to have a clear picture of this, we need to do an in-depth study,” he said.

Regarding the safety of boat passengers, Badi called on SRB officers and marine police to ensure that passengers disembark first before boat workers rush in to work on the cargoes.

He said the wharves or jetties were too narrow for passengers and workers to use at the same time.

As for Satem, he wanted the SRB to allocate more money for maintaining the cleanliness of wharves and jetties.

He said these facilities were often covered in mud at was either dry and dusty or wet and slippery (on which people could easily slip and fall).

The sole boat operator present, Tey, pointed out that express boats were meant for passengers and not cargoes.

“We prefer not to transport cargoes because our boats are for passengers,” he said, and advised business people to use cargo vessels to transport their goods.

On the recent increase of freight charges, he said there was no consensus among the boat operators on the rate.

According to him, the common practice is based on sharing basis between the boat owner and his workers.