THE last 15 remaining passenger boat operators at the Seberang Takir jetty in Terengganu are certain their livelihoods are headed for the rocks if the state government does not step in to help .

The opening of the new Kuala Terengganu Drawbridge across Sg Terengganu in July 2019 has led to a drop in passengers, a situation made worse by the Covid-19 crisis since last year.

Seberang Takir Boat Association chairman Muhamad Ibrahim said most of the boatmen will hang up their oars if the state government continues to withhold aid.

“Not many people use the boat service now and there aren’t many tourists due to Covid-19.

“So we fear that we may have to close down if the government doesn’t help us,” the 73-year-old told The Malaysian Insight.

The boat service used to be popular for Kuala Terengganu locals for getting from one side of the town to the other across the river. Boats would ferry them from the Seberang Takir jetty to the Pasar Payang jetty.

Tourists would also rent boats for cruises up and down the river.

Muhamad said the boatmen have only received a RM400 handout to see them through the health crisis. And that was only paid last month, after the men had struggled for a year with loss of income.

“That’s all we got. The state government has not taken any notice of this ailing sector. We don’t see any efforts to revive tourism which we are dependent on,” said the boat operator of 16 years.

Muhamad said operators have been able to survive with monthly food aid from Kuala Nerus MP Khairuddin Aman Razali.

Most operators now only earn RM20 a day compared to RM50 before the drawbridge was built. They could earn RM70 per boat from giving tours up and down the river.

“Now it is difficult to even get RM20. Some of us feel it’s not even worth coming to work so there are only four or five boats running a day.”

The boat service began in the 1950s and was an important mode of transport for Seberang Takir villagers and those living in the Kuala Nerus district, as there was no bridges then.

From as many as 69 boats, there are now only 15, as the children of operators have no interest in carrying on their fathers’ dying trade, Muhammad said.

“When the Sultan Mahmud bridge was built, many sold their boats and our number dwindled to 30. Now it is down to 15. When the remaining boat operators die, there won’t be anyone to continue the service.”

The service itself will die out if the state government does not see it as a cultural heritage worth preserving, he added.

A younger boatman, 26-year-old Wan Muhamad Alif Muhaimin, agreed youth are not interested in being boatmen.

He took up the job five years ago as his father and grandfather ran the same boat service. He also found it hard to find other jobs and did not want to move to a bigger city due to high living costs.

“This is our family legacy since my grandfather’s time, I want to preserve it,” he said.

Wan Muhamad said the remaining boat operators are struggling and expressed frustration at the lack of effort by the state tourism and culture exco Ariffin Deraman to promote Kuala Terengganu.

“The state government does not care. They said Terengganu has a lot of tourists but where are they, we haven’t seen the scores of tourists in town as claimed by the exco.

“At night, tourist spots in town like the drawbridge, Crystal Mosque and Pulau Warisan are not even lighted up. How are we supposed to attract people?

“They should increase activities and programmes such as boating competition to attract people to come.

“We used to have boating competitions under the previous government but now we don’t.” – April 10, 2021.