A timber company has agreed to provide a  crane to assist in refloating the express boat that capsized near Giam Bungan along the Rajang River in Sarawak, said Home Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.

He said he was told this during his meeting with Sarawak Chief Minister Abdul Taib Mahmud in Kuching yesterday.

“During the meeting, the chief minister informed me that he had already asked a timber company with bulldozers and cranes to help refloat the boat where victims are suspected to be still in the passenger cabin,” he told a press conference at the Kuching International Airport before departing to Kuala Lumpur today.

Ahmad Zahid said the company also had agreed to bear the entire cost of the operation.

“The chief minister also informed that the state and central government do not have to bear any cost, the assistance given is a contribution of the company’s corporate social responsibility (CSR) for the operation,” he said.

He said apart from discussions on the search and rescue operation as well as floating the capsized boat, they also discussed long-term plans for the Belaga area.

“The long-term plan consists of construction of roads from Sibu to Belaga. However, because of the high cost where they have to go through rivers, mountains and other problems, the chief minister suggested to establish new towns along the roads to boost economic activities,” he said.

Meanwhile, Ahmad Zahid said police were confident of the Sarawak Rivers Board’s (SRB) level of professionalism in managing matters related to express boats but they will not decline if asked to help any dealings at express boat jetties.

“We respect SRB’s rules, we will just be in a location when passengers board the boat if requested by SRB, this is because I was told that passengers will get angry if they are  not allowed to board without knowing the high risk of overloading,” he said.

‘Steersman did not have a licence’

Ahmad Zahid said based on information received during a briefing at the scene, the steersman of the express boat that capsized did not own a licence even though having 20 years piloting experience.

“We do not want to interfere in the operations matters and leave it to the SRB, but I think rules must be followed, life must be given priority,” he said.

Last Tuesday, the express boat ferrying more than 200 passengers sank near  Giam Bungan along the Rajang River.

Police so far have confirmed that one passenger died, 204 survived while three others are still missing.

Meanwhile, in KUALA LUMPUR, Ahmad Zahid received a courtesy call from Alain Aeschlimann, the operations chief for Red Crescent Societies in West Asia, East Asia and the Pacific at his ministry.

Following the meeting, Ahmad Zahid said Malaysia had given permission to Aeschlimann to make visits to prisons throughout the country to look into the humanitarian and rehabilitation aspects of the country’s prison system.

He added that Aeschlimann would also be allowed to visit immigration detention centres to view for himself the conditions there.

- Bernama