Singapore "stealing" Malaysia... bit by bit

Singapore "stealing" Malaysia... bit by bit Allegedly stealing sand in night raids

#1 Uncle Gweilo

Posted 13 February 2010 - 01:43 PM

I'll preface this by stating that this article is in the Telegraph. I don't know whether to laugh or take it seriously. Looks like a little more credible investigation is required.

http://www.telegraph...-Sand-Wars.html

Quote

The island city-state's size has increased by over 20 per cent since the 1960s and demand for sand for lucrative land reclamation and development projects is higher than ever.

However, recent bans on exporting sand introduced in Indonesia, Cambodia and Vietnam have cut off supplies and opened up a thriving smuggling trade.

Thieves have begun making night-time raids on the picturesque sandy beaches of Indonesia and Malaysia, carving out millions of tons of coastline and leading to fears of an imminent environmental catastrophe on a swath of tropical islands.

#2 yohan

Posted 14 February 2010 - 01:38 PM

Reclaiming of land is an important issue also here in Japan.

Everywhere, where is shallow water, swamps. a small bay etc. it makes sense to convert it into land, but you need a lot of sand for doing that.

Usually in case of artificial islands, Japanese often connect them with underwater tunnels, and this material can be used again for further artificial islands. Also material from removing old house structure made of concrete is used for reclaiming land, and also other various garbage of any kind.

Wide areas of Tokyo are reclaimed land, like Daiba/Ariake (hotels, shops and Tokyo fairground on the other side of the bay-bridge). It is connected with 2 underwater tunnels for industrial traffic (container port etc.)

Also Kansai Airport is made out of reclaimed land and a big part of Tokyo Haneda Airport is also reclaimed land.

#3 Mandrunk

Posted 14 February 2010 - 01:42 PM

Ditto Hong Kong... Chek Lap Kok Airport is largely a man made island (well actually, originally two small islands flattened and spread out), and there is creeping reclamation of Victoria Harbour, much to the annoyance of many Hong Kong residents, as the Harbour is considered to be one of the territory's best assets.

#4 yohan

Posted 14 February 2010 - 01:43 PM

Uncle Gweilo, on 13 February 2010 - 01:43 PM, said:

I'll preface this by stating that this article is in the Telegraph. I don't know whether to laugh or take it seriously. Looks like a little more credible investigation is required.

Yes, it is serious, indeed a huge amount of sand is required for reclaiming land. If done correctly, many km2 of additional land can be used for various purposes, like ports, parks, industrial zones ....

In Europe it is Netherland, known for wide reclaimed areas.

#5 TizMe

Posted 14 February 2010 - 02:44 PM

It's lucky that this story is not about Cambodia using Thai sand.

The mad PAD would be declairing war.

#6 Uncle Gweilo

Posted 15 February 2010 - 06:36 AM

yohan, on 14 February 2010 - 01:43 PM, said:

The thought is actually of the Singaporeans skulking around like thieves in the night nicking sand from under the Malaysian's noses. Or paying others to do it on their behalf, which is more a Singaporean way. All a bit bizarre, but I suppose they have to get it from somewhere.

This post has been edited by Uncle Gweilo: 15 February 2010 - 06:40 AM