Malaysia to import sand from RI

PEKANBARU, Riau: Malaysian Ambassador to Indonesia Dato' Hamidon Ali said on Wednesday that Malaysia wished to buy sand from the Indonesian government.

"But, we leave it for the Indonesian government to make a decision on this," the Ambassador told reporters after he met Riau governor Saleh Djasit.

Ali said the imported sand would be used in the construction of Tanjung Pelepas harbor in Johor and land reclamation projects in the city of Melaka and on Pinang Island.

The Ambassador said the governments of Johor, Melaka and Pinang had proposed to import sand from Indonesia, as it was much cheaper than sand from Malaysia.

The three governments are waiting for a response from the Indonesian government, as they had heard that Indonesia was prohibiting the export of sand to other countries, including Singapore, he said.

Saleh said he had conveyed Malaysia's proposal to the central government and that the central government had the final say on the matter. -- JP