Sematan’s rapid progress spurs reopening of SRB office

SEMATAN: Sarawak Rivers Board (SRB) has reopened its Sematan office in light of the pace of development in the area.

Established in 1996, the office which was reopened on Tuesday (Dec 19) had been temporarily closed since January 15, 2019.

It is now situated at Rumah Rehat Kerajaan Sarawak, Lot 724, Block B, Pueh Land District, Jalan Seacom, Sungai Kilong, under the administration of the Lundu district office.

Minister of Transport Datuk Seri Lee Kim Shin said the decision to reopen the office was prompted by Sematan’s rapid progress, particularly in riverine transport and logistics activities.

“With the reopening of its office in Sematan, SRB will closely monitor and enforce its regulations on any riverine activities within Sematan and Lundu.

“These activities include sand extraction, anchorage, passenger transportation, fish farming in rivers, and others.

“Other than that, the reopening would not only enhance the regulation of river activities but also contribute to the economic growth and sustainable development of Sematan and Lundu,” he said.

Lee also said that SRB has two facilities in Sematan, namely Sematan Wharf and Sematan RC Jetty, designed to accommodate cargo and passenger activities.

In addition, the board also provides anchorage areas and Aid to Navigation (AToN) to guide ships and ensure safe mooring.

To ensure the community along the river is well-informed about river safety and cleanliness, SRB is committed to conducting a Safety and Cleanliness Awareness Programme.

This initiative aims to educate and enhance public awareness of the importance of river safety and cleanliness.