New Thai regulations hurting boatmen

New Thai regulations hurting boatmen

KUALA LUMPUR (AFP): Some 200 Malaysian boatmen staged a
protest Wednesday against a police crackdown on smuggling across
a river on the border with Thailand.

The boatmen plying the Golok river in the coastal town of
Tumpat in Kelantan state said the operation had dented their
income and urged authorities to ease or lift new restrictions.

Spokesman Zamakhshani Taib said they had been earning up to 20
ringgit ($5.3) a day ferrying passengers across the river.
But their earnings had been hit by new restrictions, he was
quoted as saying by the national Bernama news agency.

The boatmen must now ensure that all passengers have passports
for the five-minute trip and must use only approved routes and
jetties, he said. Marine police closed all illegal jetties from
January 3 to prevent rampant smuggling of various items,
including Thai rice.