Recent media reports say that the Energy and Natural Resources Ministry issued 11 approved permits (APs) for river sand exports. Permit holders are allowed to export river sand and other minerals to Brunei, China, Taiwan, South Korea, Vietnam, Hong Kong, India, Japan and the Maldives.
The Consumers’ Association of Penang (CAP) is concerned about the impacts of sand mining on the environment and people, and is calling for a total ban on sand exports and revocation of all the approved export permits.