Casinos: Why govmin investigation only now?

Update 10 sept 2010 — RW Sentosa to desist from targeting heartlanders

It shows that RW tot that govmin’s talking the talk that casinos waz for foreigners and that it wanted to protect S’poreans was juz that: talking the talking. And can it be blamed? The bus services started in June (though as I wrote below I saw a sign in February offering the service) but only  two days back did the govmin start investigating.

Once it did so, RW pulled back. MPs should ask which govmin department knew abt this servive, and when. And if a dept knew early, why wait until few days ago to investigate. And did RW have to ask for approval, and did it?

Original piece follows.

I am surprised that the govmin is only now investigating the free bus rides to RW Sentosa. I had assumed that the govmin had been aware of and approved of bringing heartlanders to gamble at RW. Yes I tot the govmin was that cynical: talking the talk on the evil of gambling, but walking the walk on GDP growth by helping the corporate sector.

Hey after all VB throws S$300 billion at some kiddie games but is mean with the poor and homeless, so it is not unreasonable for me  to be cynical.

The fact that the govmin is only now investigating indicates it didn’t know of the buses. Kinda worrying? If it wasn’t aware of this public fact (I saw signs in Bedok and AMK), then what hope of catching mad Paki bombers who wish ill on S’pore. BTW mad Pakis who wish ill on S’pore, don’t throw bombs. Get people to support the PAP and you may achieve the same result.

I am even more surprised to hear of the service beginning only in June. In February I had seen a sign near a bus stop in Bedok indicating that it was a pick-up point for a free bus service to RW Sentosa.

Which makes it all the more urgent that the govmin quantifies quickly (as it has promised) the contributions of the casinos to S’pore’s GDP. Better still if such quantification would show the overseas component and the local component.

I personally have serious doubts as expressed here https://atans1.wordpress.com/2010/06/24/why-mms-and-sands-views-on-casino-differ/

and here

https://atans1.wordpress.com/2010/06/23/high-rollers-take-bus-to-sentosa-casino/

that the casinos are the driver for recent tourist arrivals as propogated by the MSM and even the respected Corporate Observer.

I’ve been always a fan of having casinos here; thinking that it would be good for tourism, but if in two years time, the heartlanders are the mainstay of the casinos, then MM would have been right for opposing casinos here for so long. His change of mind would have been wrong.

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