Abstract:
The Sarawak Inland Waterway Transport System (IWTS) as it is the primary
means of transportation for a large section of the population living in the interior
to access basic amenities such as schools and health services with their own
longboats for travel along the tributaries of the rivers. Undeveloped IWTS in rural
areas has a direct and indirect impact on the human poverty and quality of life
because they have difficulties to access to basic amenities. This study explores the
efficiency of IWTS in Sarawak: Sarikei Division which is carried out by
investigate the current major navigable river systems and major routes in four
districts (Sarike, Meradong, Julau and Pakan) where passenger express, longboat
and speedboat services operate. Meetings and discussions are being held with
local government agencies, private sectors and rural communities to understand
their perceptions of issues. The objectives of the study are to investigate the
number of rural communities which only rely on river transport access with
Public River Transport (PRT) operations, to identify the dangerous area of the
waterway in rural areas with respect to the available navigational aids and to
determine the current infrastructure available provided in each passenger
terminalsand the perception of user satisfaction. This paper discusses the current
condition of public river transport operations, waterway infrastructures and
landside infrastructures which provided for local users. The findings in this study
are important because in a developing country, it is essential to improve the
transportation problems or issues in the rural areas, especially river transport.
Further, in exploring the concept of study provided and its evaluation from users'
perception, additional insights into users' satisfaction and hence improvement
measures are provided. It is their perceptions, their decisions and their behavior
could matter. Efficient IWTS is able to improve mobility and access to economic
and social services, to increase market activity, to improve livelihoods and to
increase access to hospitals, clinics and schools, particularly in rural areas.
