Villagers of Kg Seberang Manong want ‘bot penambang’ service to continue

KUALA KANGSAR: After years of service, the bot penambang (passenger boat) ferrying residents across the Perak river is set to dock for the last time.

For some 300 villagers of Kam­pung Seberang Manong, it is a bittersweet moment to see their 20-year dream for the Manong bridge – which the Government announced on Friday – finally coming true.

For as long as they can remember, the lone boat has been plying the short stretch between the Manong jetty and the village every day.

And while the new bridge will be a lot more convenient, residents want to see the bot penambang service continue.

“Don’t let the service end. Even if there are no passengers, we can still offer it to tourists,” said boat operator and resident Zamri Mohd Shafiee, 44.

The boat can be hired for fishing trips or even an excursion to nearby Pulau Semat, which houses the tomb of Perak’s fourth ruler, Sultan Tajul Ariffin Sultan Mansur Shah.

Zamri said the boat could ferry passengers as and when they needed it. The trip costs RM1 and takes a little more than five minutes.

“It is a little busier on school days. We make about four trips in the morning to ferry children from the village to Pekan Manong,” he added.

The bot penambang, which can carry up to 12 passengers, has been upgraded over the years from a wooden one to one made of fibreglass.

Zamri’s colleague Isa Bakar, who has been working for over 30 years, believes his livelihood will not be affected when the bridge is completed.

“I am fortunate because I do other work as well,” he said, adding that business could be poor due to heavy rain, strong currents or low tide.

He said villagers were quite superstitious about the boat service, especially when travelling to Pulau Semat as the late Sultan’s tomb was believed to have sacred powers.

“We believe that one must have good intentions when riding the boat. Otherwise, the boat will sink before you reach the island,” he added.