Like I said I have no hard evidence about the merkava's but I'm hearing from the tankees about the simulator training they had and how hush hush it is, Spore is famous for keeping things hush hush eg our Special Operations force ( spore SEAL equvelant ) has been around since the late 70's but was only public knowledge in 2000. not to mention the Centurions ( they use to transport them in the middle of the night) or even the phantoms fighter bombers based in ROC was all hush hush, oops i think the phantoms still is.
As for the terrain in Malaysia ( intended place of ops for saf armoured Battle groups) It will either be very dusty with soft soil ( dry season ) or very soft and muddy ( wet season ) or metal roads ( rural ), aka something like rural palistine only theirs is much more dry and dusty. We hardly ever train for urban warfare which will be the case if we were intended to fight in Spore.
SAF main armoured doctrine is tanks with heavy infantry support in assault or the AI ( armoured infantry ) flanking while the big guns keep the bad boys occupied, which the merkava is ideal for with its space for troops ( isrealy/ panzergranadier style ) , hence we do not even have reactive armour due to the proximity of our troops to the tanks.
as for Price $$, We are ( fact not boasting) only asean country with apache's, stealth cruisers, largest army, navy, airforce, SGD is also the strongest currensie. so spending $$ for Merkava's is not that far fetch.
