T'ganu plans to sell sand to other states
Published on: Tuesday, April 12, 2016
Terengganu: The Terengganu government which has been relying on petroleum as among the main sources of the state's economy, now plans to become a supplier of estuary sand to other states, following the drop in oil prices in the world market currently.Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Ahmad Razif Abdul Rahman said it was also a measure to achieve the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth rate of 4.5 per cent this year."We've seen some improvement now, oil prices are also relatively stable but now we are trying to resolve the liabilities of the state and increase its revenue.
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"One thing we are considering is to increase the state's revenue through taxes, we are thinking of (measures) including royalties for water and sea water, and the sale of land and sand. "Because if we notice, our river estuaries are (now) shallow. So, what's wrong if we use this as an economic opportunity if it is suitable?" he said.However, Ahmad Razif said to embark on the measure, the state government would have to review the current regulations regarding the sale of sand and change the policy that does not allow sand from the state to be sold to outside parties.He said previously, the government spent RM500,000 a year to manage the sand at the Merchang estuary."If we allow outsiders to do it, we will be able to recover the RM500,000 each year," he said.
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