http://www.mysinchew.com/node/45435
Games the housewives love to play
Opinion 2010-09-24 18:13
By LIM MUN FAH
Translated by SOONG PHUI JEE
There were long queues at the checkpoints of Woodlands and Tuas Second Link during the recent public holidays in Malaysia. Some Malaysians, who were trapped in the traffic queues, were heading to work, while others were going to visit their relatives or spend a holiday in Singapore. Also, many of them were going to the casinos.
I heard that on the National day, there were more than 200 feeder buses carrying gamblers to the two casino and some of the gamblers even came all the way from Ipoh!
Since the opening of the two casinos in Singapore, Malaysian gamblers can take feeder buses to the casinos for free.
Since then, a housewife tour, to be more appropriate, a gambling tour, has emerged in my hometown Kulai, a town with a distance of only about 30km from Singapore.
I was told that the housewife tour is having an increasing number of members that can fill up dozens of buses during public holidays.
With the purchase of chips worth S$100 from the casinos, they will be given a meal voucher worth S$20 and another gambling voucher worth S$30. With free transportation and meal, many housewives went once every two or three days in the beginning. Later, they started to go everyday and get addicted to gambling. Eventually, they quarreled with their husbands and brought harm to their families.
Even worse, many of their children are working in Singapore. They would rush home during weekends in the past but today, they rush to the casinos instead and gamble together with their mummies.
A friend said with emotions that you cannot blame anyone as no one has ever forced you to gamble. It is bad that you might not only lose money but as well your family once you get addicted. Then why do you still want to do so?
To prevent Singaporeans from getting addicted to gambling, its government has required all Singapore citizens and permanent residents to purchase a valid casino entry levy costs S$100 each, which might be significantly increased if found not effective. Also, its government has also given an order earlier to terminate free bus services carrying gamblers from housing areas to the casinos.
Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong has said it very clearly, "The prudent thing to do is to leave the punting games and slot machines to foreign tourists. That is the only sure-win policy for us, because whether they win or lose, they will generate gambling taxes...which Singaporeans can share in."
Therefore, Singapore does not encourage its people to gamble but foreigners are welcomed to gamble at the two casinos.
Gambling kills. If the government ignores the issue, it will sooner or later affect our society and bring greater damages to the country!
Sin Chew Daily
Games the housewives love to play
Opinion 2010-09-24 18:13
By LIM MUN FAH
Translated by SOONG PHUI JEE
There were long queues at the checkpoints of Woodlands and Tuas Second Link during the recent public holidays in Malaysia. Some Malaysians, who were trapped in the traffic queues, were heading to work, while others were going to visit their relatives or spend a holiday in Singapore. Also, many of them were going to the casinos.
I heard that on the National day, there were more than 200 feeder buses carrying gamblers to the two casino and some of the gamblers even came all the way from Ipoh!
Since the opening of the two casinos in Singapore, Malaysian gamblers can take feeder buses to the casinos for free.
Since then, a housewife tour, to be more appropriate, a gambling tour, has emerged in my hometown Kulai, a town with a distance of only about 30km from Singapore.
I was told that the housewife tour is having an increasing number of members that can fill up dozens of buses during public holidays.
With the purchase of chips worth S$100 from the casinos, they will be given a meal voucher worth S$20 and another gambling voucher worth S$30. With free transportation and meal, many housewives went once every two or three days in the beginning. Later, they started to go everyday and get addicted to gambling. Eventually, they quarreled with their husbands and brought harm to their families.
Even worse, many of their children are working in Singapore. They would rush home during weekends in the past but today, they rush to the casinos instead and gamble together with their mummies.
A friend said with emotions that you cannot blame anyone as no one has ever forced you to gamble. It is bad that you might not only lose money but as well your family once you get addicted. Then why do you still want to do so?
To prevent Singaporeans from getting addicted to gambling, its government has required all Singapore citizens and permanent residents to purchase a valid casino entry levy costs S$100 each, which might be significantly increased if found not effective. Also, its government has also given an order earlier to terminate free bus services carrying gamblers from housing areas to the casinos.
Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong has said it very clearly, "The prudent thing to do is to leave the punting games and slot machines to foreign tourists. That is the only sure-win policy for us, because whether they win or lose, they will generate gambling taxes...which Singaporeans can share in."
Therefore, Singapore does not encourage its people to gamble but foreigners are welcomed to gamble at the two casinos.
Gambling kills. If the government ignores the issue, it will sooner or later affect our society and bring greater damages to the country!
Sin Chew Daily
