Mrs Lee Kuan Yew dies at age 89
Mrs Lee Kuan Yew, age 89, passed away peacefully at home at 5.40 pm. Read here for more details.
Labels: Madam Kwa Geok Choo, Mr Lee Kuan Yew, Mrs Lee Kuan Yew
Labels: Madam Kwa Geok Choo, Mr Lee Kuan Yew, Mrs Lee Kuan Yew
Labels: Car, Driving, World Car Free Day
Labels: Bored Dad, Daughter, Father, Growing Up, Parenting, Princess
Community Development Youth and Sports Minister, Dr Vivian Balakrishnan, says the free shuttle bus rides to both IRs had to be stopped immediately last Friday because they had infringed upon strict advertising regulations.
Dr Balakrishnan was responding in Parliament on Wednesday to questions on why the
Read here for more details.
But again Minister, I'm sorry that, I'm still not convinced nor can accept the explanation given.
While I can agree that the IRs may had infringed the advertising regulations when they announced about the winners in the casinos to the media, but I have not yet see any form of advertising or promotion of casinos at any of the pick up points of these shuttle services. Those Genting Points that RWS mentioned can also be earned from other Genting outlets or entertainment facilities, not necessary just within the casino inside the RWS.
Minister also mentioned that: “Instead, we imposed advertising restrictions and a comprehensive set of social safeguards. Our aim was to minimise the impact of the casinos on locals, to protect vulnerable groups like young persons and dependants, and to prevent the casinos from targeting the locals as their principal market.”
But sorry Sir, with all due respect, why then LTA or MRT operator or the government is building a MRT Station at MBS or near by MBS? Wouldn't the ease of transportation by MRT to MBS make it even more convenience to the local to patronise the casino in MBS than the shuttle buses? Wouldn't then the near facility of a MRT station to MBS have any impact to the locals? Why is it then the MRT operator is not order to stop building that MRT station? Or will it be that that particular MRT station is mainly for the tourists to alight, no locals can alight at that MRT Station? Certainly not so, right?
Furthermore, the shuttle bus service had been in operation for at least 3 to 4 months by now, wouldn't LTA aware of their operation? How is it possible that IRs can have the shuttle bus service without the approval from LTA first? Not forgetting that when the bus shuttle service was introduced by the IRs, it was widely publicised in various news media including the TV evening news, shouldn't be that CRA have reacted back then?! Instead of months after the bus shuttle had started operation!
Although it was 7 months since the IRs had started operation and there was about 1million local Singaporeans had patronised that casinos. But haven't you noticed that being Singaporean, when there is something newly opened, especially fresh things the casinos in Singapore, which was unheard of and unimaginable by many before that a country like Singapore can and willing to have not one but two casinos, as such, many Singaporeans will be curious and interested to see how is this casino in Singapore, many will just rush to any newly opened shopping malls and so many will rush to take a look at the casinos, but as time goes by, the interest on these places will start to wind, eventually, there will be lesser and lesser Singaporeans will wants to step into the casinos, except those who really wants to go there just to gamble. But it will certainly not in the millions of Singaporeans.
Also with such statement made, it's likely possible some more radical Singaporeans will start to think that casino or even the IRs are only a place for the foreigners, the tourist, Singaporeans are not welcomed at all. Is that kind of perception that MCYS or CRA wants Singaporeans to have? I certainly don't think so.
The two IRs may need to attracts more tourist to patronise their IRs or casinos, but certainly they cannot survive just mainly based on the foreigners or tourists. As such, if government is really concerns about the impact of the casinos to the locals, the young and dependants, then why not consider to increase the entry levy charge to at least $500 to $1,000? This will certainly cut off a great majority of Singaporeans going into the casinos.
Therefore, based on the above points that I had mentioned, Minister Sir, your explanation still unable to convince me, nor I can accept it. More certainly need to be done.
Labels: Bus Service, Casino, CRA, Integrated Resort, IR, MCYS, Shuttle Service
Labels: Drivers, Driving, Road Safety
Labels: Bus Service, Casino, Integrated Resort, IR, MCYS, Shuttle Service