The reclamation works could have an adverse impact on marine life. Fishermen are already complaining of dwindling catch.

Land and Cooperative Development Minister Tan Sri Kasitah Gadam said the reclamation work, although located in Singapore waters, was too close to Malaysian waters.

"Any reclamation work around the island will cause undersea movements that could affect water current and sea bed structure," he said. "The deeper region of the sea could also shift, thus disrupting existing shipping routes."

Kasitah heads the government's special committee set up to oversee the land reclamation issue.

He was speaking to reporters after officiating at the signing of good conduct letters by department heads in the ministry.

Ships calling at the Pasir Gudang and Tanjung Pelepas ports presently followed routes within Malaysian waters, he said.

"But if they are forced to enter the Singapore waterway," he said, "it would add to their operational costs."

Ships would have to pay the Singapore authorities a variety of fees, including pilot charges.

Ships calling at the Malaysian Shipyard and Engineering Sdn Bhd's maintenance and repair activities located in the area might also be affected.

Under international laws, shipping routes must not be affected in any reclamation exercise.

Besides cost repercussions, there was also the negative environmental impact to marine ecology that Malaysia is worried about, he said.

"The undersea movements at Pulau Tekong will adversely effect marine flora and subsequently affect flourishing marine life," he said.

Kasitah said his committee, comprising representatives from his ministry, the Foreign and Works Ministries, Pasir Gudang Port and Marine Department, have received many complaints from fishermen on dwindling catch.

The committee had included all feedback and findings of the affected fishermen and related authorities and agencies in Johor in preparing a report to be submitted to the Cabinet tomorrow.

"This will be a preliminary report," he said. "The Cabinet will decide to take the issue further."

Besides, the committee is actually under the Foreign Ministry's jurisdiction.

Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar will chair the committee once he returns from his overseas assignment.

Kasitah said although the government had registered its concern with the Singapore government, work on the project is still reported to be continuing.

The reclamation project at Pulau Tekong is aimed at doubling the size of the island.

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