BAU: Regatta boat racing teams are urged to provide escort boats during training sessions, following the recent boat capsizing incident that claimed five lives in the Sarawak River.
Deputy Minister of Transport (River and Sea) Datuk Henry Harry Jinep highlighted the importance of this measure, considering that rowers or participants do not wear life jackets while rowing.
He noted that wearing a life jacket can restrict movement and is not suitable in hot weather, as it can make it difficult for an individual to breathe.
“However, in this case, escort boats are essential for regatta training participants, and in my opinion, this is a non-negotiable safety requirement,” he said.
Elaborating further, Henry, who is also the Tasik Biru assemblyman, said the presence of escort boats could also save lives in emergencies.
“Escorts can quickly provide assistance, such as throwing life jackets or flotation devices, reducing the risk of drowning before larger assistance arrives.
“With escort boats, immediate action can be taken without having to wait for rescue boats, which may be far away,” he added.
Henry urged boat racing teams to submit their training schedules to the Sarawak Rivers Board (SRB) to ensure that every activity is closely monitored and safety is ensured.
“This ensures that the SRB can control the movement of vessels operating along the river.
“By doing this, the risk of capsizing due to large waves caused by passing vessels can be reduced,” he added.
At the same time, Henry requested that only experienced swimmers participate in regatta boat races.
He stated that the ability to swim is a basic requirement that every participant must meet, as it is a fundamental rule.
“If you can’t swim, don’t participate. It’s dangerous for yourself, just like in other sports, you can’t race motorcycles if you don’t know how to ride one.
“The same applies to regattas – you must know how to swim to ensure your safety,” he said.
He also expressed his condolences to all the families involved in the tragic boat accident that claimed the lives of five members of the Sarawak Enforcement and Safety Unit (UKPS).
On Oct 20, five of the 16 rowers from the UKPS team were found drowned after their boat was struck by waves from a passing fishing boat during their training session on Oct 18.
