As MediaCorp wraps up multi-platform national debate
THE casino debate was given a concerted public airing yesterday, with Singaporeans seemingly still torn on whether having one would be good for the country. The Government, which has received a total of 19 proposals to build an integrated resort with a casino here, is expected to make a decision in the next four to six weeks.
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Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong made it clear in Parliament on Wednesday that while the Government welcomed the public debate, it would not shrink from having to make a decision after weighing the pros and cons.
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MediaCorp put the seal on a multi-platform national debate through an hour-long programme called High Stakes: The Casino Debate, aired last night on Channel NewsAsia (CNA). The programme featured a studio panel hosted by Ms Diana Ser, with Today CEO and editor-in-chief Mano Sabnani and Institute of Policy Studies research fellow Dr Gillian Koh as panellists.
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Letters from Today readers, comments from NewsRadio listeners, online postings and emails to CNA's website were read out during the show.
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Viewers also followed two Singaporeans who visited the casino at Genting Highlands recently along with MediaCorp artiste Gurmit Singh. One of them, Ms Carolyn Oh, a 30-year-old mother of two who used to work for four years in a Las Vegas casino, was firmly against having a casino here.
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Mr Alvin Quek, 33, a self-proclaimed former gambling addict, meanwhile, was all for it.
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After spending time at Genting's other attractions, the pair set themselves limits of RM100 ($43) and RM500 respectively and played at the slot machines and blackjack tables.
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At the end of the day, Ms Oh, who won RM12, declared that was the end of her casino adventure: "I'm stopping because I'm winning. If I continue, I might end up losing everything."
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Mr Quek finished RM300 poorer.
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But, even with such contrasting fortunes, both held firm on their initial stand.
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Back in the studio, Dr Koh's verdict on the casino was clear, especially where the moral argument was concerned: "Society should become more tolerant of diversity, which is a moral value."
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Mr Sabnani, on the other hand, questioned whether restricting the casino to just overseas high rollers would be economically viable for the operator. "I question whether we can attract enough foreigners here. The big gamblers are not going to see us as a place for gambling.
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"We are not going to be a hub like Macau. If you restrict the locals, the cash cow for the integrated resort goes down," he said.
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And what did the man on the street think?
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"The majority will lose (money), it's a losing game," said one man, who was interviewed by CNA. "Singaporeans are already gambling, it's about time we took responsibility," said another. As MediaCorp wraps up multi-platform national debate
Lee U-Wen
u-wen@newstoday.com.sg
THE casino debate was given a concerted public airing yesterday, with Singaporeans seemingly still torn on whether having one would be good for the country. The Government, which has received a total of 19 proposals to build an integrated resort with a casino here, is expected to make a decision in the next four to six weeks.