S'pore rebuts report its demand of sand from Cambodian threatens
ecosystems
By Saifulbahri Ismail | Posted: 11 May 2010 0935 hrs
SINGAPORE : The Singapore government has rebutted a report by
Global Witness' claiming that Singapore's demand for Cambodian sand has
threatened the ecosystems and undermines good governance.
The report from the international environmental NGO suggests the
Singapore government seeks to import sand without due regard to the laws
or environmental impact of Cambodia.
A statement from the National Development Ministry (MND) indicated this
is not true. The Ministry says it is committed to the protection of the
global environment.
And it does not condone the illegal export or smuggling of sand, or any
extraction of sand that is in breach of the source countries' laws and
rules on environmental protection.
The government also did not receive any official notice on the ban of
sand exports from Cambodia.
The import of reclamation sand to Singapore is done on a commercial
basis by Jurong Town Corporation (JTC), a statutory board under the
Trade and Industry Ministry.
JTC requires all its sand suppliers to comply with local legal
procedures to extract or transport sand from the sources without causing
adverse impact to the environment.
It has also put in place specific measures to ensure accountability from
the sand suppliers.
Singapore Customs also has in place procedures to check and investigate
the import of all goods, including sand, at the various checkpoints.
MND says the policing and enforcement of sand extraction licences is
ultimately the responsibility of the source country.
However, Singapore will continue to play its part to ensure that sand is
extracted in a legal and environmentally responsible manner.
- CNA/il
Haiz... hope they don't silt up the Mekong.