THE day starts from as early as 4am for the boat operators in Pulau Gaya, Sabah.
Pulau Gaya, which is home to four water villages – Kg Suapan, Kg Lok Kurai, Kg Pasir Putih and Kg Pondoh – is a 10-minute boat ride from Kota Kinabalu mainland. For most of the residents of the island, who commute to Kota Kinabalu city for work, boats are the only means of transportation.
The lockdown has drastically affected the income of Pulau Gaya’s boat operators, causing a drop in revenue following restrictions that limit the capacity of passengers from 12 to only four people per boat.
Recently, the enhanced movement control order was also announced in several Sabah localities, including Kg Pondoh in Pulau Gaya.
For the villagers of Pulau Gaya, the disruption of their livelihoods entails a tough time ahead of them. – July 11, 2021.
Boat operators in Pulau Gaya, Sabah, struggle to make ends meet as the nation-wide lockdown continues amidst the raging pandemic. - The Malaysian Insight pic by Irwan Majid, July 11, 2021.Saidina Sapal, who has been running his boat service in Kg Suapan, Pulau Gaya, since 1996, gets ready for work at the crack of dawn. - The Malaysian Insight pic by Irwan Majid, July 11, 2021.Villagers gather at a jetty in Kg Pondo, Pulau Gaya, which is a 10-minute boat ride from Kota Kinabalu. – The Malaysian Insight pic by Irwan Majid, July 11, 2021.Boat drivers in Kg Suapan, Pulau Gaya, begin their day from as early as 3am. - The Malaysian Insight pic by Irwan Majid, July 11, 2021.Two villagers, who are heading to Kota Kinabalu mainland from Pulau Gaya, are seen on a boat driven by Saidina Sapal. - The Malaysian Insight pic by Irwan Majid, July 11, 2021.A man stands at the bow of a boat. A view of Kota Kinabalu city can be seen in the background. - The Malaysian Insight pic by Irwan Majid, July 11, 2021.The smiles of children are a stark contrast to the hardships faced by villagers in Kg Suapan, Pulau Gaya, Sabah. - The Malaysian Insight pic by Irwan Majid, July 11, 2021.Boat operators are seen waiting around for passengers near a jetty in Pulau Gaya, Sabah. - The Malaysian Insight pic by Irwan Majid, July 11, 2021.A villager in Pulau Gaya, Sabah, is seen carrying his son. Boat service is a source of livelihood for the people of Pulau Gaya. - The Malaysian Insight pic by Irwan Majid, July 11, 2021
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