Punggol 21 Plus masterplan is a long-term one: Grace Fu

By Valarie Tan, Channel NewsAsia
15 September 2007

SINGAPORE : The new Punggol 21 Plus is a long-term plan and is thus not expected to be completed in the next five years.

Minister of State for National Development, Grace Fu, says the masterplan, announced recently, will take time to study and develop.

She was responding to a query at a dialogue with residents on Saturday afternoon.

The majority of participants at the dialogue said yes to a new waterway lifestyle at Punggol 21 Plus.

They especially look forward to living just steps away from a man-made river built right in the heart of Punggol.

But some residents were impatient about the estate's development plans.

Desmond Koh, Resident, Mountbatten, says: "Do I have to wait another 10 years later to meet again and give feedback on Punggol? How fast does this development move because I have some friends staying in Punggol. They say the LRT there is not very developed."

Punggol 21 was initiated some 10 years ago in 1996 and was pitted to be the next lively housing estate in Singapore with over 90,000 public and private units.

But then the economic crisis kicked in and demand for new flats dipped and construction slowed down.

Still, the Housing and Development Board (HDB) says new flats and facilities will continue to be built according to demand.

Ms Fu says: "This is a long-term project so do not expect to see this in the next few years. It's something that we're going to work on definitely. It's going to go into the plan but it will take some time. We will build flats across the island but not in a very big way. The major development will be in Punggol, in Sengkang.

"That's really the plan that we have. As to how many flats how many units, we have to adapt those plans according to needs. We do go through economic cycles and people do change their plans. We have cases of lots of people queueing up saying they want to buy new flats, and in a year later, the queue actually disappeared because we went through a downturn."

Tay Kim Poh, CEO, HDB, says: "We're building about 2,000 to 3,000 flats a year (in Punggol). Today we have about close to 19,000 flats completed or under construction on the ground. Within the next few years, we're going to see a lot more flats coming up. Most of them will be located near the town centre. That will give us enough catchment to proceed with the developments of the town centre."

Punggol 21 Plus is part of the HDB "Remaking The Heartlands" plan.

And so far the plans have been seen by over 33,000 people at exhibitions in Toa Payoh, Tampines and Punggol

While many welcome the new flat designs, a majority of them were concerned about costs, and hope that the new flat units will not come with too high a premium.

But according to feedback to HDB, 81 percent of residents said they were willing to pay more for service and conservancy to enjoy the new flat designs.

About half of them said they were willing to pay above S$10 more than the usual rates. - CNA/ch

Comment: Channel 5 reports a statement from PUB about sustainable construction, reusing soil being dug up to be used for the new riverbed.*

*Needs to be verified

Sands IR: The glitz, the glamour, the swelling cost

By Jasmine Yin, TODAY
29 August 2007

SINGAPORE: At US$3.6 billion (S$5.5 billion), it was touted as one of the costliest casino-resorts ever, out-glitzing even the newly-opened Venetian Macao.

Now, the development bill for the Marina Bay Sands integrated resort (IR) could swell further - by as much as US$1.44 billion.

A spike in the cost of building materials, sparked by the Indonesian sand ban in January, as well as refinements to development's design, could push up the tab by "20 to 40 per cent", Las Vegas Sands president and CEO William Weidner told the Singapore media visiting Macau on 28 August.

Said Mr Weidner: "My cost people keep on discussing concrete and some of the sand issues that you all face in Singapore. We're struggling, quite frankly, to stay within our budget."

"It's a very, very complicated and sophisticated building... as wonderful as the idea is, now that we try to execute it in concrete and steel, it's a bit of a challenge. But we'll get there. We’re looking for means and methods to construct it more efficiently."

Back in February, when construction on the IR began, the casino operator was hopeful the sand supply issue would be a "temporary glitch" and that the Singapore Government would find a long-term solution.

The Las Vegas-based operator meets regularly with the Republic's authorities. Said Mr Weidner: "There are several issues that still need to be resolved."

Some S$700 million worth of contracts have been awarded. A whopping S$1-billion contract to build the IR's three 50-storey hotel towers - which will go to a multi-national corporation - will be announced soon, revealed Marina Bay Sands' vice-president George Tanasijevich.

The IR is due to open in 2009 and already, talks are ongoing with organisers to host about 20 major events up to 2013, he added.

Sands was the first foreign player to enter Macau's gaming scene in 2004.

The US$265-million Macao Sands got its money back - and more - by raking in US$400 million in revenue within a year.

So, is Las Vegas Sands expecting its latest property - the US$2.4-billion Venetian Macao, touted as the world's second-largest building - to break even within 12 months? More like five years, Sands' billionaire chairman Sheldon Adelson told AFP.

More than 3,000 guests and 1,200 media turned up for Tuesday's star-studded opening of the Venetian Macao, which is modelled - on a larger scale - on Sands' The Venetian in Las Vegas, complete with canals, gondolas and a fake sky.

In addition to more than 850 gaming tables, there are 3,000 luxury suites, a 15,000-seat stadium and 350 shops. The new resort reportedly employs 5 per cent of the territory's workforce of 450,000.

In the crowd was Singapore Tourism Board deputy chairman and chief executive Lim Neo Chian, who described the new resort as "very impressive". He said: "By the time the Marina Bay Sands IR opens in Singapore, Las Vegas Sands will have invaluable experience and insight into the Asian market - enabling them to make Marina Bay Sands, which is very different in design to their two Macau resorts, an even better proposition."

The Venetian Macao is the first casino built on the Cotai Strip, a complex of hotels that will have more than 1 million sq ft of gambling space, 3 million sq ft of retail and almost 20,000 hotel rooms.

With the target being the huge numbers of nouveau riche gamblers who pour daily across the border from mainland China, Mr Weidner announced plans for a Las Vegas Sands ferry service from Macau to Hong Kong and Shenzhen on 28 August. A new terminal is being built near the Macau airport, as are 10 new ferries that will cast off between October and March.

Last year, gaming revenues in Macau totaled US$7.2 billion - overtaking the Las Vegas Strip for the first time. - TODAY/ym

花岗石储备场影响土质水质？

农粮局加强监测 确保林厝港菜园品质

By 吴汉钧 (Lianhe Zaobao)
24 August 2007

　　农粮与兽医局将对林厝港23家农场菜园展开长期的土质和农产品监测工作，确保农产品不会受到花岗石储备场的影响。

　　建设局在今年4月决定在林厝港梁宙路一带开辟一个花岗石储备场。周围一些农场主人担心土质和水质受影响，对此举感到不满。不过，建设局较早前指出，它同多个部门包括国家环境局、农粮局等协商过，储备场地点是经慎重选择后的决定，当局也制定了措施减少储备场对环境的影响，农粮局也会尽力确保农产品可安全食用。

　　农粮局昨天派员到这23家菜园和热带鱼养殖场采集土壤和蔬菜的样本。这些样本经检测后将作为储备场开始运作前的参考基础。日后，农粮局人员会定期到各菜园采集样本进行检测，然后同昨天采集到的样本进行对比，以了解这些农产品有没有受到污染。

　　农粮局人员将分析土壤的酸碱度、土壤质地和钾含量。他们采集了菜心、小白菜、苋菜和生菜的样本，检测蔬菜的硅含量。鱼场的水质也受到检测，因为养殖观赏鱼的水酸碱度应维持在5.5至9.5之间。

　　农粮局食品供应及科技署助理署长陈有能受访时说，钾是农业地的重要养分，植物需要丰富的钾，才能茁壮生长。在许多国家，含丰富钾的花岗石尘甚至被农民用作肥料。因此，如果有关地段有丰富的花岗石尘，不仅不会危害土地，反而会对土地有益处。不过，农粮局须找出钾含量的变化，以协助农夫调节钾肥的施放。

　　他说，至于硅，过量有害健康。不过，用水冲洗蔬菜可以轻易把菜叶上的硅洗干净。

　　建设局早前说，它将设立高围栏和缓冲区、在周围种植树木、限制卡车运送花岗石的时间及穿行路线、清洗卡车车轮及场内马路等。储备场内也将会有完善的排水系统，把雨水排到现有的水沟渠道，避免雨水流到菜园及鱼场。

　　陈有能说：“检测结果出炉后，农粮局将让业者知道。如果有必要，农粮局会同建设局及建屋局合作，投入更多的措施，进一步加强农产品的安全。”

有些菜园园主担心，大量花岗石堆积，会导致该处土地承受过重的压力，地底的养分和地下水会流失，影响林厝港土地失肥。

　　植物学专家洪焰博士受访时指出，堆积花岗石导致土地失肥的说法不完全成立，因为虽然花岗石是沉重的物质，的确有可能把底下的土地压得更紧实，但堆积再多的花岗石，恐怕也不会比一座大厦重。

　　洪焰是淡马锡生命科学研究院植物生物技术研究室主任。他说，花岗石本身没有毒性，它所含的硅是一种惰性物质（inert material），不溶于水，所以不太可能污染水。

　　但他提醒，花岗石可能在开采或运送的过程受到有毒重金属污染，所以有关当局应在进口前确保花岗石经过检验，才长期储存。

早报中英对照

酸碱度：pH level

土壤质地：soil texture

钾：potassium　硅：silica

花岗石尘：granite dust

惰性物质：inert material

Farmers hope to overturn govt's plans to stockpile granite at Lim Chu Kang

By Wong Siew Ying, Channel NewsAsia
16 August 2007

SINGAPORE : Plans to stockpile granite at Lim Chu Kang are not going down well with some farmers there.

And they are trying to see how they could overturn government plans to use the area as a granite stockpile site.

Storing granite at Lim Chu Kang is part of the government's strategy to ensure that there is an adequate supply of essential building materials.

It also serves to tide the industry over in the short term, as shown by the recent disruption in supply after Indonesia banned granite exports to Singapore.

A high fence has been erected around the granite stockpile site between Lim Chu Kang Lane 1 and Neo Tiew Road.

The Building and Construction Authority (BCA) said the fencing is one way to reduce dust from stockpiling work over the next 12 months.

While farmers agree such measures will help, they are worried about the possible impact on their crops, especially those located within 200 metres of the site.

Some of the 200 farms in the area sell their produce to local supermarkets.

"You can't control the elements, the wind can carry the dust for many kilometres. The dust settles on the vegetables, and will this have an impact on consumers? We don't know. And it could also harm the environment," said Alan Toh, MD of Yili Vegetation & Trading.

But according to the BCA, due care will be taken to mitigate any negative impact on the environment.

This includes having designated routes for trucks and adequate drainage to discharge rainwater into existing drainage channels.

The farmers are also concerned about the heavy vehicles that would be plying the roads once stockpiling begins.

They say it will not only cause pollution, but also pose a danger to road users, especially cyclists who ride around the area in the evening.

But BCA told Channel NewsAsia that it would restrict operating hours, and there would be no delivery of granite on weekends and public holidays.

Apart from environmental issues, the Kranji Countryside Association, led by Ivy Singh-Lim said this latest development undermines efforts to promote eco-tourism.

She added that the area, zoned as agricultural land, is also an educational tool.

"For the past three years, a group of us - farmers - created a jewel here, a little gem of a countryside place. And we've been seeing thousands of Singaporeans, especially kids, three-generation families coming out here to bond in the natural area. But this granite dumping is going to destroy the whole spirit of the place," said Ivy Singh-Lim, president of Kranji Countryside Association.

BCA said it has consulted the farmers. But the farmers are not quite satisfied.

BCA added that it has studied possible sites for stockpiling, and Lim Chu Kang was selected as it is away from densely built-up urban areas.

But the farmers hope that stockpiling can be done away from their doorstep. - CNA /ls

Indonesia releases five of 12 barges carrying granite: Mah

By Julia Ng, Channel NewsAsia
10 May 2007 2122 hrs

SINGAPORE: Indonesian authorities have released five of the 12 barges carrying granite which had been detained.

This was revealed by National Development Minister Mah Bow Tan on Thursday evening.

Speaking at a Building and Construction Authority (BCA) dinner, Mr Mah also said prices of concrete are dropping as alternative sources of sand and granite kick in.

But to encourage the construction sector to keep looking for new alternative sources, the BCA is formulating a scheme to co-share some of the risks involved.

Mr Mah says the recent disruption in the supply of sand and granite from Indonesia is a wake-up call to the industry.

It made Singapore look at how to diversify its supply sources and switch to sustainable construction, as much as possible.

And to encourage the industry to import from other sources, the BCA will soon be releasing details of a scheme to help co-share some of the risks involved.

Mr Mah also listed three key elements needed for Singapore to develop a world-class built environment.

And these are environmental sustainability, construction sustainability and barrier-free accessibility.

The minister added that his ministry wants to push harder for green building technologies and sustainable construction.

And this means, using materials that are recyclable and readily available from many sources.

According to Mr Mah, "We must aim to be less dependent on concrete. We can do so in several ways. First, switch to non-concrete alternatives such as structural steel, glass, dry wall systems and metal claddings.

"BCA is working with several agencies to review the existing regulatory requirements to facilitate greater use of structural steel. Second, explore use of suitable substitutes for sand and granite in the production of concrete.

"Just as in the case [of] Newater, can we find an alternative for sand and granite which is economically viable and readily available, a "NewConcrete" perhaps?

"One innovative solution uses copper slag and recycled coarse aggregates as substitutes for sand and granite to make concrete-like products.

"The challenge is to continue to find ways to bring down the cost to make such products commercially viable while enhancing its structural strength." - CNA/yy

Singapore to use less concrete for building construction in future: Mah

By Hasnita A Majid, Channel NewsAsia
28 March 2007 1816 hrs

SINGAPORE: Singapore will reduce its dependency on concrete as building materials in future.

It will instead shift to alternative sources and building technologies.

National Development Minister Mah Bow Tan gave the assurance that there are enough supplies of sand and granite in the government stockpile for the industry to produce the concrete it needs to proceed with its commitments.

Alternative supplies are also coming in from other sources.

Mr Mah was speaking at an eco-buildings conference where he unveiled what is to be the first eco-friendly precinct in Punggol.

The new development, called TreeTops@Punggol, will have dry partition walls in its interior instead of concrete walls.

Dry partition walls are made of ferro-cement material with two panels bolted together to form a wall with a hollow core.

That and other materials, such as recycled concrete and structural steel used in the construction of flats, can help cut down the dependency on sand and concrete.

Singapore's supply of sand and granite from Indonesia has been affected recently when Jakarta announced a ban on sand exports and later detained some barges, carrying granite materials to Singapore.

But Singapore maintains this has not slowed down its building projects.

The National Development Minister said: "We have already said we are proceeding, we are moving ahead. The sand shortage and the granite shortage is something we've anticipated. We always prepare for exigencies. That's why we have the stockpile.

"We have no short-term disruption but I think in the longer term, we have to change our construction methods."

Mr Mah said the government has worked out various cost-sharing formulas with contractors working on government projects.

This includes co-sharing up to 75 percent of the increase in the cost of sand.

Indonesia has not released detained vessels carrying granite: MFA

26 March 2007
CNA

SINGAPORE: Singapore's Foreign Ministry (MFA) said Indonesia has not released the detained vessels carrying granite.

It was responding to media queries on whether Indonesia had released the vessels, following the meeting between Foreign Minister George Yeo and his Indonesian counterpart Hassan Wirajuda in Nuremburg earlier this month.

Minister Hassan had told Mr Yeo that an inter-departmental team had visited the Riaus to investigate the Indonesian Navy's detention of the tugboats and barges, carrying granite bound for Singapore.

He had also assured Minister Yeo that the Indonesian team's verification process would be transparent.

Singapore's Foreign Ministry added that Singapore has not heard from the Indonesians since then.

On Monday, MFA sent a diplomatic note to the Indonesian Embassy in Singapore to seek an update on the results of the Indonesian team's investigation.


- CNA/so

Explosions Hit Hong Leong Asia Owned Granite Quarry

26 March 2007
TODAY

SABOTAGE is suspected to be behind four explosions that ripped through a
granite quarry in Karimun, in the Riau Islands of Indonesia, on Friday.

No one was injured in the blasts, which happened in the early hours of
Friday at PT Karimun Granite, a subsidiary of Singapore-based Hong Leong
Asia, reported Channel NewsAsia.

The head of police for Riau District, Brigadier-General Sutarman, said
three of the blasts affected the conveyor belt used for transporting the
granite to the port. The fourth happened near the guard-house. A team of
forensic specialists from Medan are now in Karimun to investigate the
blasts.

In an interview with Indonesian newspaper Kompas, the police chief said
foul play was suspected.

In 2000, Hong Leong Asia acquired a majority stake in PT Karimun Granite -
the largest hard rock quarry operation in South-east Asia - to supply the
increasing demand for marine rocks for reclamation works in Singapore as
well as raw materials for the group's other operations.

Following the ban on sand exports, Indonesia has been talking in recent
weeks of a ban on granite exports for environmental reasons.

Indonesia's sand ban not a matter of life and death: PM Lee

By S Ramesh, Channel NewsAsia
17 March 2007

SINGAPORE: Indonesia's decision to ban the sale of sand to Singapore is not a matter of life and death for the Republic, said Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong.

Giving his views on the Indonesian decision, he told a group of journalists from the Japanese media that it is, however, an opportunity lost for economic cooperation, which hurts both sides.

Mr Lee said it is unfortunate that this problem has come up.

Prime Minister Lee noted that the official explanations from Indonesia for banning the sale of sand were concern over the environment and that it had nothing to do with other issues which both countries are negotiating.

These are the extradition treaty and the defence cooperation agreement or the ongoing talks on boundary demarcation.

Singapore accepts these explanations and hopes over time the matter will stabilise and cooperation will be resumed.

At its end, Mr Lee said Singapore has a stockpile which would last for a considerable time.

The government has also started importing sand from other sources and the flow has already begun.

But it would take a while for the full flow to resume to the amount needed for construction works, but it is in progress.

Mr Lee said the cost would be higher than importing from Indonesia, but quite bearable as total construction costs are expected to increase by only two or three percent.

He went on to say that if sand is going to cost more, there is potential to use less sand and concrete in construction, and go for more efficient processes, steel and dry walls.

Mr Lee cited the example of Japan where companies use steel, adding that if Japan can do it, there is no reason why Singapore companies cannot.


- CNA/so

Indonesian Cabinet is not considering granite export ban: Foreign Minister

By Gamar Abdul Aziz, Channel NewsAsia
15 March 2007

INDONESIA: It is not true that the Indonesian Cabinet is considering a proposal to ban granite exports, contrary to recent media reports out of Indonesia.

This clarification comes from Indonesia’s Foreign Minister Hassan Wirajuda.

According to Singapore's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, this was what Mr Hassan told his Singapore counterpart George Yeo at the sidelines of the ongoing 16th ASEAN-EU Ministerial Meeting (AEMM), in Nuremberg, Germany.

MFA said Mr Yeo had a short meeting with Mr Hassan.

And at that meeting, the Indonesian Minister also informed Mr Yeo that an inter-departmental team had visited the Riaus last week, to investigate the detention by the Indonesian Navy of the barges carrying granite.

According to Mr Hassan, the team had found that some of the barges were in breach of regulations.

And he assured Mr Yeo that this verification process would be transparent.

At the meeting in Germany, both ministers also spoke on joint negotiations to conclude the Extradition Treaty and the Defence Cooperation Agreement.

And they both agreed to set an early date for the Foreign and Defence Ministers to meet together with representatives from the armed forces.


- CNA/so

Sand in your face, smoke in your eyes and a fistful of dollars

By Julia Suryakusuma
Straits Times
13 March 2007

JAKARTA - WHEN Indonesia banned the export of sand to Singapore, it was one of those very rare moments when our civil society and government agreed on anything.

Mr Hermanjaya from Ocean Watch, for example, said sand mining in several areas, especially in the Riau islands, has caused the extinction of several fish species, the destruction of coral reefs and even the disappearance of a number of small islands.

But it is a case of too little, too late. Walhi, a leading NGO in Indonesia, says we are on the edge of ecological disaster. Our appalling environmental record - inherited from former president Suharto's New Order, with its emphasis on economic and material development - is a reflection of our greed and our existential KKN - the ubiquitous, pervasive, ingrained national culture of corruption, collusion and nepotism.

Indonesia's rapid rate of environmental destruction is also a reflection of our stupidity: it is like burning our house down while we are still living inside! So why do we do it? Because we are paid to. The environmental destruction of Indonesia is something that investors have always been eager to put money into - lots and lots of money - and Indonesia will do almost anything to keep its battered economy afloat.

So it is a race to the bottom, to create risk, generate debt and guarantee environmental destruction to keep the national budget in place for another year. It would be funny if it were not so tragic.

And, of course, it is the company owners - mainly the local elite or foreign multinationals - who get to enjoy the profits, not our poor. And that often drives the people to do their own pillaging of the environment too, just to stave off the rumbling in their bellies. Hence the recent boom in unregulated and chaotic small-scale illegal mining, logging and fishing.

The result is that the level of forest destruction in this country - mainly through destructive and often illegal logging, industrial plantations and conversion of vast tracts of forest land into palm oil plantations - has reached 3.4 million hectares a year since 2002.

The good news? This year it is predicted to decrease to 2.8 million hectares. The bad news? This is simply because the forest area is decreasing.

We are running out of resources and our environment is disintegrating. According to Walhi, there were 135 ecological disasters - including floods, tsunamis, earthquakes, forest fires and harvest failures - last year.

These claimed more than 10,000 lives, leaving over a one million homeless. Total losses reach tens or even hundreds of trillions of rupiah.

Indonesians love to play the blame game, but in this case blaming the government would be justified.

Policies? Weak and exploitative. Law enforcement? Weaker still. The authorities still have not charged any key people at the top management level of offending companies or organisations, just targeting the operational level. Even worse, courts have set illegal loggers free in more than 70 per cent of cases. Political will of the government? Non-existent, or so it seems. The sand ban is little more than mere symbolism.

Mining is a good example. 'Mine thy neighbour' is the name of the game and the government has issued dozens of mining contracts in conservation areas across Indonesia. The controversies surrounding several foreign mining companies are so well known, I do not even have to mention names.

Our rivers? Many rivers in Java, Kalimantan, Sulawesi and Nusa Tenggara are now in a critical condition, with high levels of pollution and decreasing water volume because of exploitation of water catchment areas.

In Jakarta, up to half of river pollutants come from industry, with about 2.2 million tonnes of toxic waste discharged into the rivers in Jakarta and West Java annually. About 73 per cent of well water in the city is contaminated by ammonia, and 13 per cent of well water in South Jakarta - where I live - is contaminated by mercury. So I am sticking to juice, thanks.

And the seas? Just as depressing. Only 6 per cent of the country's total of 60,000 sq km of coral reef is intact. Coastal erosion occurs in 60 locations in 17 provinces and only 30 per cent of our mangrove forests are in good condition. Mangroves form a protective barrier against tsunamis. The next time you tuck into yummy tiger prawns, remember they probably came from prawn farms created by destroying vast tracts of coastal mangroves. Bon appetit.

Does anyone, anywhere care? Indonesia is roundly criticised for its annual forest fires, which create massive carbon emission pollution and haze, creating transport and health problems across South-east Asia.

Yes, our neighbours complain, but they do not seem to object to the plunder of our natural resources that contributes to this environmental destruction.

Malaysia, for example, is a big importer of timber sourced from illegal logging in Indonesia, one of the causes of the forest fires.

Yes, Indonesia needs to get its environmental act together, fast. But the countries which benefit from the rape of Indonesia's resources also need to be part of the solution. It is all about supply and demand, as usual.

We are all connected, if not by land or even by sea, then by air, and hopefully by spirit. So let us look at saving our house, which is the global environment, and put our own immediate interests a little to the side, shall we?

What we need is a coordinated international approach, or at least a regional deal, to stop illegal and unsustainable resource exploitation throughout South-east Asia.

jskusuma@dnet.net.id
The writer is the author of Sex, Power And Nation.

LOGGING UP PROFITS
Indonesia's rapid rate of environmental destruction is also a reflection of our stupidity: It is like burning our house down while we are still living inside! So why do we do it? Because we are paid to. The environmental destruction of Indonesia is something that investors have always been eager to put money into - lots and lots of money.


Copyright © 2007 Singapore Press Holdings. All rights reserved. Privacy Statement & Condition of Access

Indonesia still discussing granite export ban: Ambassador Wardana

By Satish Cheney, Channel NewsAsia
13 March 2007

SINGAPORE: The Indonesian government is still discussing whether to ban the sale of granite, says the Indonesian Ambassador to Singapore.

Mr Wardana said this to reporters on the sidelines of a cultural showcase held at the Indonesian Embassy in Singapore on Tuesday.

He said: "Up to now there's no decision related to the banning of granite, but this afternoon.....in Jakarta, I think they had a discussion related to the matter because of our concerns related to the environment aspect of this (granite) mining.....The cost of the environment is also very big....the value of the export of sand in 2005 was only US$6 million for the whole year, incomparable to the damage to the environment."

In Jakarta earlier Tuesday, Indonesia's Foreign Minister Hassan Wirayuda was quoted by the Jakarta Post as saying that the Indonesian Cabinet was discussing the possibility of banning granite exports.

But Indonesia's Trade Minister Mari Pangestu, speaking at the end of the Cabinet meeting, contradicted Mr Hassan's comments.

She said that the Cabinet did not discuss the possibility of including granite in the current ban on the sale of land sand.

She also confirmed that the current regulation of allowing granite exports had been verified by authorities.

Indonesia's earlier ban on the export of sand has forced Singapore builders - among the biggest buyers of sand - to look to alternative sources.

The Singapore government has also released sand from its stockpile.

If granite exports are also banned, it will impact Singapore's construction sector further. - CNA/ir

Best answer to granite ban question is to seek clarifications: minister

By Valarie Tan, Channel NewsAsia
13 March 2007

SINGAPORE : Defence Minister Teo Chee Hean said it is best to seek clarifications from Indonesia on recent comments about a possible ban on the export of granite to Singapore.

He was speaking to reporters during the graduation ceremony at Republic Polytechnic on Tuesday morning.

Mr Teo was asked if such a ban will affect joint military exercises between the two countries.

"Well, there are many different remarks being made by our counterparts in Indonesia. It's very hard to tell exactly who speaks and what that represents. And we have to clarify with them. And I think that's probably the wisest thing to do right now," said Mr Teo.

When asked a similar question earlier this month following Indonesia's sand ban on Singapore, Mr Teo had said the Armed Forces of both countries have a long history of cooperation, including training and exercises going back to the 1970s. - CNA /ls

Mixed Signals On Granite Exports To S'pore

13 March 2007 (TODAY)

Quibbles over technical terms surface, while officials hint at a possible
ban

JAKARTA - When it comes to the export of granite, nothing seems cast in
stone in Indonesia.

Several Jakarta officials yesterday hinted at a possible ban on the export
of granite to Singapore. Meanwhile, provincial authorities from the Riau
islands insisted that the exports will continue.

The issue also took a more technical twist. While the official Indonesian
stand has been that there is a ban on the export of land sand to
Singapore - and no ban on granite exports - the focus has now shifted to
granite chips.

Foreign Minister Hassan Wirajuda said the government was now looking into
whether the export of granite chips should continue.

His comments come in the wake of allegations by the Indonesian Navy that
13 Singapore-bound barges and tugboats that were detained were found to
have contraband sand underneath the granite shipments.

Mr Hassan said yesterday that while there was no ban on granite exports,
"discussions on the possibility of granite chips are ongoing".

"It is our right as a sovereign nation to ban sand exports for the sake of
environmental protection," Mr Hassan was quoted by Reuters as saying.

Earlier this month, Mr Hassan and Trade Minister Mari Pangestu told
Singapore that there was no export ban on granite and they would check why
the barges were detained.

Meanwhile, the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle weighed in on the
issue, urging the government to take firmer actions against people found
exporting sand and granite to Singapore, Antara news agency reported. This
even though there is no ban on granite exports.

This prompted Indonesia's Environment Minister Rahmat Witoelar to say that
his ministry will study the environmental impact of granite quarrying in
the Riau islands. He said officials would determine whether granite mining
was as harmful for the environment as sand mining.

Observers say that it could indicate a step closer to a ban on granite
exports.

"We haven't banned the (granite) exports yet, but we must limit any export
of natural resources if our environment is being damaged by the mining of
these resources," Mr Rahmat told The Jakarta Post.

This contradicted his comments made in the Batam Pos last week to the
effect that the Indonesian Cabinet had already approved a granite ban and
that it would take effect soon. He later denied making those remarks,
saying he was misquoted.

Riau islands Governor Ismeth Abdullah, however, guaranteed that despite
the seizure by the Navy of a number of barges, granite exports would
continue.

"It is true that the Navy has intercepted several barges carrying granite,
but they (the barges) were not following proper procedures. We guarantee
that export activities will continue in the province, as the export of the
material is not banned. No more ships will be detained if they follow
procedures," he told the Post.

He said the Riau islands would oppose a ban on granite exports, which
would further slash provincial revenue following the central government's
ban on sand.

Indonesia has banned sand exports to all countries, a move that has
affected the construction industry in Singapore. But Singapore has found
alternative sources.

The contradictory comments coming out of Jakarta has prompted Singapore's
Ministry of Foreign Affairs to seek clarification.

Political analysts say that the latest threat is to up the ante and force
Singapore towards signing an extradition treaty, which would be a feather
in the cap for some quarters in the Indonesian government. Some Indonesian
politicians have said publicly that this was the agenda behind the sand
ban.

This despite the fact that Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono
and Singapore's Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong had agreed in October 2005
to negotiate the extradition treaty in tandem with a defence agreement.

No Plans To Ban Granite

14 March 2007 (TODAY)

Indonesian Trade Minister clarifies Jakarta's stand

JAKARTA - The Indonesian government has no plans for a blanket ban on
exports of granite, according to the country's Trade Minister.

However, Ms Mari Elka Pangestu added that Jakarta is urging provincial
governments to stamp out illegal exports of this commodity and export only
granite that meets Trade Ministry requirements.

"Until now, we are not discussing stopping exports of granite (entirely).
What is occurring is that according to government regulations, exports
besides sand and topsoil, of which granite is one, have to be verified" as
meeting criteria specified by the central government, the Trade Minister
told reporters yesterday.

Ms Pangestu's comments contradicted earlier statements made by Indonesia's
Foreign Minister Hassan Wirajuda and Environment Minister Rachmat
Witoelar, who had said the government was considering a ban on granite
exports.

Ms Pangestu did not specify what the criteria were to determine whether
granite can be legally exported.

A ban on granite exports would affect Singapore's construction sector,
Indonesia's Antara news agency reported.

The debate over the export of granite comes in the wake of a ban on sand
exports imposed by Indonesia on all countries last month. Jakarta's move
affected the construction industry in Singapore but Singapore has since
found alternative sources of sand.

The conflicting signals from Jakarta over the granite issue has prompted
Singapore's Ministry of Foreign Affairs to seek clarification on the
issue.

Yesterday, when asked to comment on the granite issue, Singapore's Defence
Minister Teo Chee Hean said: "There are many different remarks being made
by our counterparts in Indonesia; it's very hard to tell exactly who is
speaking and what that represents, so we have to clarify with them and I
think that's probably the wisest thing to do right now."

Political analysts say that the latest threat by some officials to ban
granite is intended to up the ante and force Singapore to sign an
extradition treaty, which would be a feather in the cap for some members
of the Indonesian government. Some politicians have said that this was the
agenda behind the sand ban.

The extradition pact has been linked by Indonesian officials to these
other issues despite the fact that Indonesian President Susilo Bambang
Yudhoyono and Singapore's Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong had agreed in
October 2005 to negotiate the extradition treaty in tandem with a defence
agreement. - DOW JONES NEWSWIRES and channel newsasia

Indonesia ups the ante on granite

By TODAY
12 March 2007

BATAM: A second Indonesian navy commander has urged his country's government to impose a ban on the export of granite, barely weeks after Jakarta halted the sale of sand to other countries.

According to Antara news agency, the commander of the Indonesian Navy's Western Fleet, Junior Marshal Mulyono, said over the weekend that Jakarta should impose a granite export ban because of the impact granite mining has had on the environment.

"If the impact (on the environment) is similar (to sand mining), we should also impose similar regulations on granite," he said.

This latest call for a granite ban echo earlier calls by the Commander of Tanjung Pinang Naval Base, First Marshal Among Margono, who was reported to have also proposed a ban to the central government, while Indonesian State Minister of Environment Rachmat Witoelar was quoted by the Batam Pos last week as saying that the proposal had been approved at the Cabinet level. Singapore has asked for an explanation.

Antara had reported that excessive granite mining has triggered environmental damage in a number of areas in the Riau Province, such as Bintan and Karimun, and several Indonesian ministries are discussing the issue.

Indonesia's Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry is reported to be studying the extent to which granite mining can be tolerated, the Environment Ministry is studying the impact of such activity on the surroundings, while the Trade Ministry is evaluating the potential profit and loss from granite exports.

If granite exports are also banned, it will impact Singapore's construction sector, Antara reported. Indonesia's earlier ban on the export of sand has forced Singapore builders — among the biggest buyers of sand — to look to alternative sources. The Singapore Government has also released sand from its stockpile.

Political analysts say the latest threat is meant to up the ante and force Singapore towards signing an extradition treaty, which would be a feather in the cap for some quarters in the Indonesian government. Some Indonesian politicians have said publicly that this was the agenda behind the sand ban.

This despite the fact that Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong had agreed in Oct 2005 to negotiate the extradition treaty in tandem with a defence agreement. - TODAY

MP hits out at reason given by Indonesian media for sand ban

By Wong Siew Ying, Channel NewsAsia
27 February 2007

SINGAPORE: The land sand ban issue was not forgotten in Parliament, even though it has been over a month since Indonesia decided to bar sand exports to Singapore.

Speaking during the budget debate, Tanjong Pagar GRC MP Indranee Rajah hit out at the reasons given by the Indonesian media for the ban and said that resource-shortage Singapore would have to be resourceful.

Singapore used to import a large amount of sand from Indonesia for construction purposes, until last month's ban.

Indonesia cited environmental reasons and border protection to back its move.

As a sovereign state, MP Indranee said, Indonesia has the prerogative to impose the ban.

And Singapore must find alternative for sand and other construction methods.

Ms Indranee took the opportunity to point out another pressing environmental issue.

She said: "It is heartening to note Indonesia's concerns about the environment. With the environment being of such great concern, it is hoped that Indonesia will take equally firm and decisive steps to deal with the problem of the haze and the forest fires that caused such devastating deforestation, especially in the light of the anticipated El Nino effect this year.

"And it's also hoped that the ban against forest fires will be enforced by the enforcement agencies with the same zeal and diligence that the sand ban is now currently being enforced."

Other than environmental reasons, Ms Indranee cited media reports saying the ban could be a way to pressure Singapore to resolve differences in extradition and some border negotiations.

She said: "If the reason is pressure, clearly we cannot accede. The extradition treaty negotiations are linked to the defence cooperation treaty negotiations and when it comes to something as important as defence cooperation, it cannot be entered into (with) anything less than equal standing between two countries, with equal give and take."

Ms Indranee said Indonesia should not forget that Singapore is also a sovereign state.

There should be no place for pressure in dealings between two sovereign states, especially not between friendly neighbours. - CNA/ir

ndonesian remarks linking sand ban to extradition treaty disappointing: MFA

By S Ramesh, Channel NewsAsia
19 February 2007 1820 hrs

"A disappointment to us" - that is what Singapore's Foreign Ministry says of remarks by a Director-General of the Indonesian Department of Foreign Affairs, Primo Alui Joelianto on the recent sand ban to the Republic.

The Jakarta Post of 16th February had reported Mr Primo as saying the ban was a "key way of placing more pressure" on Singapore to resolve differences in extradition and some border negotiations.

Singapore's Foreign Ministry said the official reason given for the ban last month was environmental protection.

But Mr Primo's remarks now leads Singapore to wonder whether that was the main reason.

Singapore had expressed willingness to work with Indonesia on environmental protection, but Indonesia ignored this offer and proceeded with the ban.

Singapore says it embarked on negotiations with Indonesia on the Extradition Treaty and border delineation in good faith on the basis of mutual benefit.

On the Extradition Treaty, both Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong had agreed in Bali on 3 October 2005 that it would be in parallel and linked to the negotiation on a Defence Cooperation Agreement.

On that basis, good progress has been made on both agreements even though some difficulties remain.

What is needed now is political goodwill on both sides to finalise the agreements which, from Singapore's perspective, is within reach.

However, unilaterally making sand an additional issue with the objective of delinking the Defence Cooperation Agreement from the Extradition Treaty, contravened the earlier agreement by the leaders of Singapore and Indonesia when they met in Bali in October 2005. - CNA/ch

Johor floods: Tekong works not to blame

Straits Times 14 Feb 07
Letter from Errol Goodenough

MALAYSIANS who believe the floods in Kota Tinggi are a result of reclamation works on Pulau Tekong need to revisit their local geography.

Kota Tinggi town lies way up the Johor River, some 45km from Pulau Tekong. The very name (High Fort) suggests it is on elevated ground.

All the way downriver are numerous villages. None was inundated, although all are on lower terrain on the river bank.

Kampong Belungkor and the province of Pengarang, which lies directly opposite Pulau Tekong, were not affected either.

Surely these settlements would have been the first to flood if reclamation were to blame, especially as they lie at the mouth of the Johor River where water flow is significantly slower.

Indonesia dismisses criticism of sand export ban

Jakarta Post 13 Feb 07
Abdul Khalik

Jakarta: Indonesia on Monday rejected Singapore's accusation that the ban on sand exports to the city-state was unnecessary, replying that Indonesia had good reason to impose the ban and that such attacks were unjustified.

"We have very strong reasons to ban sand exports to any country, including Singapore," Indonesian Foreign Ministry spokesman Desra Percaya said.

Desra, who is also the ministry director for international security and disarmament, said the sand mining had caused very severe environmental damage in many Indonesian islands, including in Sebayik and Nipah islands.

A high-ranking official at the ministry said that sand mining had deteriorated areas of Indonesia's outer islands, threatening to narrow the nation's territory. The official, who asked for anonymity, added that since some parts of the Indonesia-Singapore border were still in dispute, the mining, which is often in these areas, could cause Indonesia to lose the basis for some territorial claims.

Indonesia's ban on the export of sand took effect last week, and applied to all states. But Singapore was hit hardest by the ban.

The nation has been by far the largest importer of Indonesian sand, for use on its ongoing land reclamation projects. The ban sent shares in the nation's construction companies plummeting amid speculation they would have to import concrete sand from more expensive sources.

Singaporean ministers promptly responded to the ban, saying Indonesia had no grounds for banning sand exports to the country.

Singapore's National Development Minister Mah Bow Tan told the nation's Parliament on Monday that the ban was unjustified, and that the price of the exports was already supposed to have factored in the cost of environmental degradation.

"Based on what we know, the Indonesian sand suppliers who are licensed by the Indonesian government are obliged to plow some of their proceeds ... into environmental reconstruction, and that is built into the price of the sand," he told The Associated Press.

Mah also said it was regrettable that Indonesia did not take up Singapore's offers to assist in addressing environmental concerns over sand mining before imposing the ban.

Foreign Minister George Yeo also disputed Indonesia's claims the ban was imposed to protect the sprawling archipelago's national border. "It is not possible for Indonesia's export of land sand to affect its maritime boundaries," Yeo was quoted as saying by AP in the same Parliament session.

"According to our contractors who imported the land sand from Indonesia, the sources of their Indonesian suppliers were from inland locations away from the border islands of Indonesia," Yeo said.

Singapore's building authority on Jan. 31 said it would release concreting sand from its stockpile to make up for shortfalls caused by the ban. Mah said that sand from alternative sources was expected to be more expensive due to higher transportation costs, and said it would only increase the overall cost of project development by a "manageable" one to three percent.