Bandar seri Begawan - The Kianggeh Temburong jetty in Jalan Residency were the focal point as large crowd of passenger were using the speedboats service back home for the Hari Raya celebration and vice-versa.

One of speedboat operators said it's a normal scene during Hari Raya and business is also picking up as people from Bandar and vice-versa returned home to celebrate with family members.

Asked if there is any special discount on ticket sale and extended operation hours during the celebration, he said, "our ticket price will be normal as usual - we charged $5.00 for the elderly and youths, $3.00 for children aged three and below and $6.00 for adults."

"Our service will operate following the fix hours, in which the last speedboat from BSB is at 5.15pm and the last speedboat from Temburong will be at 4.30am daily.

We are not going to operate for extra hours due to safety reason and to avoid untoward incidents as river routes will be covered in darkness at night," he said.

Currently, there are two companies that operate speedboats services to and from Temburong with Syt Koperasi and Sri Bangar.

The number of passengers will usually increase on the first, second and third day of Hari Raya celebration.

That is because the residents of Temburong and Bandar and those from other part of the districts will take the opportunity to visit each other during the celebration.

The officer urged passengers to put safety as top priority when travelling and while onboard speedboats and water taxi especially during the Hari Raya celebration.

Meanwhile, motorists will soon experience a smoother ride by land especially travellers in between Limbang and Temburong when a bridge over the Pandaruan river to link Limbang and Temburong District is built.

Currently, travellers only rely on ferry services to cross the Panduran river, which causes the long queues of vehicles seen during weekends, festivity season and public holidays.

The Malaysian government is ready to proceed with the long-awaited bridge to ease congestion at the ferry crossing; however it needed to be discussed with Brunei in the interest of the people in both regions.

The bridge would only be over 20 metres long connecting the two sides.

The joint Malaysia-Brunei private sector ferry service currently costs RM8 for saloon vehicles and a maximum RM150 for long based vehicles.
Once the bridge is ready, it would definitely reduce congestion and provide smoother ride to travellers from both sides.

--Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin