Assoc Prof Jamus Jerome Lim (Sengkang): I thank the Minister for his response. If I may just push a little bit, my understanding is that this sand is typically procured by JTC – I am willing to stand corrected on that. What are the mechanisms to ensure that JTC complies with the stipulations that the Ministry sets forth?
And secondly, if I may just follow up from the Member Louis Ng’s question: what is the broader framework? Because I think what we want to avoid is a situation where we get just all the valid paperwork, but we violate the spirit of acquiring sand in an ethical fashion. And I think that is, ultimately, what he may be suggesting when it comes to a broader framework for acquisition of sand.
Mr Desmond Lee: I think the Member made very sensible points, along with Member Louis Ng. As I said earlier, JTC and other agencies that procure sand, procure it on a commercial basis from operators. There are requirements in the specifications for tender that the operators who import the sand comply with certain rules and regulations, particularly those of the source country. And the source countries will have their own regulators. But on Singapore’s end, the entity that procures the sand will, where necessary, do the necessary checks to ensure that the rules and regulations and the paperwork are in compliance.
Mr Speaker: Mr Dennis Tan.
Mr Dennis Tan Lip Fong (Hougang): Thank you, Mr Speaker. Can I ask the Minister, when are the environmental studies going to be commenced and how long would they be expected?
Mr Desmond Lee: Sir, the technical and environmental studies are expected to take around five years.
Mr Speaker: Ms He Ting Ru.
Ms He Ting Ru (Sengkang): Thank you, Mr Speaker. Just one supplementary question for the Minister. I think the Minister mentioned earlier that there are some checks that are done by the agencies with their counterparts overseas, from source countries on where the sand comes from.
I just want to understand how often are these checks done and what triggers their being carried out, whether it is through tip-offs or whether it is a regular spot check or audit. How do they actually decide when to carry out these checks to make sure that all the regulations have been complied with?
And then, the follow-on thought process from that is, whether or not our current regime is strict and enough to make sure that all these things, like illegal mining and smuggling of sand, do not take place, as and when our counterparts export the sand to us?
Mr Desmond Lee: Well, as I have mentioned earlier, the tender specifications and contractual requirements require compliance with local laws and regulations and certain standards that are set out and expected by the agencies procuring the sand. And the agencies will look out for and receive information from a variety of sources, if there is a sense of non-compliance with any of these contractual as well as regulatory groups.
Ministry of National Development
9 January 2024
https://sprs.parl.gov.sg/search/#/sprs3topic?reportid=oral-answer-3394
Office of the Leader of the Opposition 