The PAS Youth wing has named five Malaysian companies as concessionaires in the alleged supply of sand to Singapore for the disputed reclamation project around Pulau Tekong and Pulau Ubin in the Tebrau Straits.

At a press conference held today in Johor Baru, PAS Youth state media officer Onn Jaafar named the five companies - two in Johor and three in Kuala Lumpur - but would not provide any other details about them.

Claiming to be wary of the Official Secrets Act (OSA), he said he was reluctant to release the documents in hand to back the youth wing's claims.

Contacted by malaysiakini later, he said: "At this point, I don't think it would be wise to reveal any more details regarding the evidence that we have. We have to be very careful, what with the OSA and all."

On Monday, PAS Youth information chief Mazlan Aliman said documentary evidence would be revealed at (today's) press conference about the Malaysian companies' involvement, as well as on the "issuance of dredging licences by the Land and Co-operative Development Ministry".

Questions raised

While failing to produce the documents, Onn still expressed doubt about the companies' explanation that the sand was meant for reclamation works around the Tanjung Pelepas port in Johor.

He said sand-dredging operations are going on round the clock in Pontian, Muar and Kota Tinggi, all in Johor.

Also, with Indonesia's recent decision to stop supplying sand from Riau province, Sumatra, he said it was unlikely that Singapore would have sufficient sand for the project without supply from Malaysia.

"(Even if) the five companies claim that they are supplying sand for Tanjung Pelepas, is so much sand needed for just this one project?" asked Onn.

He urged the government to initiate an immediate inquiry and revoke the dredging licences if the companies are indeed supplying sand for the reclamation works at Pulau Tekong and Pulau Ubin.

This is in view of Malaysia's objection to the project and its recent application for arbitration to the Hamburg-based International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea.

The government had submitted an application for a 'stop-work' order on the grounds that the project would cause environmental damage and was situated in territorial waters.

A preliminary hearing decided on Oct 8 that both countries should set up a joint panel of experts to study the impact of the project, and work in consultation to determine any temporary measures deemed necessary. The tribunal, however, allowed the reclamation work to continue.

Dumping of mud

Onn further alleged that ships belonging to the companies are compounding the situation when they clear away mud from the reclamation site in Singapore.

He alleged that, on the return trip, the mud is dumped along the Malaysian coastline fringing the Tebrau Straits and that this has affected the livelihood of local fishermen.

"This has diminished the size of the catch caught in the area and damaged the fishermen's nets," he said.

"Previously, these fishermen used to catch an average of 50-60kg of shrimps a day. These days, they're lucky if they can get more than 5kg."

Onn said that he would raise the issue with the ministries of agriculture and land and co-operative development.

He added that the government should take measures to resolve the problems promptly and to clarify its involvement in the reclamation works.