Scubaism

In an effort to reduce fatalities on Sarawak’s rivers, the Sarawak Rivers Board is working with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) to create awareness of river safety among local residents and train them in safety procedures.

“We want everyone to start with knowing how to use [the rivers] safely. With this campaign, we hope to equip participants with the knowledge of how to prevent accidents, recognize emergencies and respond effectively,” said YB Dr. Abdul Rahman Ismail, ADUN on behalf of Y.B. Dato’ Sri Haji Awang Tengah bin Ali Hassan, Minister of Public Utilities for Sarawak.
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. 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.

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.

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.