Illustration (Reuters / Kevin Lam)

Disappointed, Singapore's Sand Export has been dismissed by Malaysia

Singapore - Malaysia is reportedly has banned and stopped the sea sand exports to Singapore and this decision has worrying the government as this new policy from Prime Minister Mahathir Mohammad's government is expected to complicate Singapore's ambitious expansion, especially in the development of the Tuas port or reclamation island.
Mahathir also tightened regulations regarding the export of rivers and sand estuaries to Singapore as well.

According to Singapore government data, the city state's land extends to 2.7 square kilometers during 2018 as the expansion is the largest in the past decade. According to the source, Singapore now needs at least 88 million cubic meters of soil and sand material to build the Mega Port Tuas which is claimed to have 383 football fields and can be used for several big events.

It is reported by two senior State officials that, Prime Minister Mahathir Mohammad actually has imposed the rule since last 3 October because he was disappointed and annoyed because the sand that Malaysia sold to Singapore was used to expand Singapore's territory and he was concerned that the sale of sand land to Singapore has only benefited corrupt Malaysian officials or black market.

However, a spokesman for the Singapore Maritime and Port Authority (MPA) said on Wednesday (3 / 7) that, other than sand, they are also using materials from various sources to build the land, including dredge material from canal navigation and fairways.

On the other hand, two sand importers to Singapore said that sand commodities are getting rare, forcing the region to look for other sand producers from India and other countries to ensure the development in Singapore continues successfully on schedule.

It is reported that, Singapore has imported 59 million tons of sand from Malaysia in 2018 with a cost of 347 million dollars. This import made 97 percent of Singapore's total sand imports this year based on volume and 95 percent of Malaysia's global sand sales.

Source: https://www.cnnindonesia.com/internasional/20190703160504-106-408771/singapura-terus-perluas-lahan-malaysia-setop-ekspor-pasir