Only silica, quartz and sea sand need licence for export, the Royal Malaysian Customs Department said today.

Department deputy director-general, Mohamed Khalid Yusuf, told reporters in Putrajaya today that river sand and sand from mining areas were not under the prohibited export conditions.

Two days ago, former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad in his blog questioned whether sand sent to Singapore from Johor was ordinary or silica sand.

Asked about no need for a licence to export unlimited river or mining sand to Singapore for whatever purpose, Mohamed Khalid said the permission to do so was under other departments and not the Customs Department.

On the actual amount of sand exported to Singapore, Mohamed Khalid said: "For silica sand, the average quantity is 10 lorry loads a day.

"We can determine each type of sand exported. We have declaration forms."

- Bernama