The on-going land reclamation works within Singapore's own borders at Tebrau Straits will not affect shipping to Pasir Gudang Port, according to local port officials.

The width of the entrance to the Serangoon Channel is 950m and there's no way the land reclamation works will narrow the navigation channel to hinder sea traffic leading to our port, one port official who requested anonymity told malaysiakini today.

The matter has been politicised, he added.

Port officials have been more than baffled by the reported concerns of some Malaysian politicians and officials that the land reclamation works undertaken by Singapore close to Pulau Tekong could seriously hinder sea traffic into Johor waters by narrowing the channel entrance.

Observers who have been to the site share the port officials view that the channel entrance is wide enough and that there is no likelihood of the land reclamation works by Singapore causing any form of siltation or narrowing of its width.

In any case, Malaysian government officials have acknowledged that the activities are all within Singapore's own borders and that no one should stop Singapore from going ahead with work on their side of the Tebrau Straits.

Meanwhile, Singaporean newspapers, including The Straits Times, Business Times and The Shipping Times , hardly touched on the issue.

This could indicate they have been instructed by the Singapore government to keep off the issue so as to not further aggravate bilateral ties.