PENSIANGAN: Along the untamed waters of Sungai Saliu in Sabah's remote Pensiangan district, the 'Ketinting' boat has emerged as a lifeline for riverine communities.
This improved mode of transportation is transforming lives and travel along one of the state's most challenging waterways.
Pensiangan's Ketinting culture owes much to cross-border influences. Situated along the border with Indonesia's North Kalimantan, Pensiangan has long been a melting pot of ideas and practices.
The Ketinting itself is inspired by similar innovations from Indonesia, highlighting the natural exchange of technology and culture in this remote frontier region.
Powered by a modified water-pump petrol engine with an adjustable-height long-shaft propeller imported from Thailand, the Ketinting is uniquely designed to navigate shallow and rapid-filled rivers where commercial engines fail.
The boat's efficiency is particularly crucial in Pensiangan, where the river also serves as a lifeline for villagers, the main route for teachers to reach schools, other services, and future ecotourism products.
The journey from Tahas Tininting Longhouse at Kampung Salinatan to Kampung Katambalang is a true test of resilience, marked by 25 rapids, five of which are notorious for their intensity.
For decades, villagers endured exhausting eight-hour trips in traditional wooden boats, paddling relentlessly through turbulent waters. But since the Ketinting's introduction three years ago, the same journey now takes just one and a half hours.
However, the success of each voyage heavily depends on the 'Juru Batu' who has a vast knowledge of Sungai Saliu's ever-shifting riverbed.
Their role is to direct the Ketinting captain through the maze of submerged boulders and strong currents, ensuring the vessel and its passengers reach their destination unharmed.