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What
people say about the Southern shores
and plans for its development
Feedback Unit, Government Consultation
Portal
What are your views on the setting up of
a casino in Singapore?
A selection of responses that mentioned the reefs and wildlife
of the Southern shores
23 Mar and earlier | 24-26
Mar | 27-30 Mar | 31
Mar-8 Apr | 9-12
Apr | 15-16 Apr | The
full thread
RE:
A Casino in Singapore?
Mikhail 15/04/2004 07:44:45PM
No, i don't think that in building a casino in S'pore is right. This
is island belongs to all of us and its heritage should be destroyed
by building a casino here. That is my view on this subject.
For
us to admire
Lin M.S 15/04/2004 08:59:26PM
Just my two cents worth.
I cannot claim to be an expert at the diversity of wildlife in our
Southern islands, however, just one visit to Pulau Hantu last year
took my breath away. I could not stop talking about what I saw there,
and my friends who heard what I told them wished they had the chance
to come along to see with their own eyes.
Along came plans to build a casino on Sentosa, as well as future plans
to put our Southern islands to profitable use. Judging from the statistics
supplied by various sources, there is not a doubt just how much monetary
benefits can be profited from this vice.
Many people who have paid attention to this controversy must have
developed a certain degree of interest in the Southern islands, and
we ask, what is it about these places which invokes such an outcry
from our people? Are ecologists and conservationists just protesting
for the sake of it, do they not weigh the pros and cons of casino
versus wildlife?
Or is there a genuine cause for conservation which will benefit our
descendents for years to come?
Let me raise a few things I saw on P.Hantu which I found unforgettable.
There was a lone jetty there, old cemented paths, and trees swayed
in the gentle breeze. During low tide, there were numerous large,
flower-shaped soft corals that flopped over the rocky shore; large,
white ghost crabs that ran so fast which were difficult for a person
to run after, let alone catch them. And there are species of crabs
which only exist in Singapore, and nowhere else, which can still be
found on our Southern islands.
It is to my pleasure that I could visit one of the southern islands
that I did not know still exists in Singapore, and one thought struck
me hard. I had wished that in the near future, this place would be
a place for all Singaporeans to admire wildlife that we so often see
in documentaries from other places. There are many things which Singaporeans
are proud about our country, perhaps a great biodiversity which we
can all enjoy is something which we can boast about in time to come.
Hence, do we only want to say things like: We do not have to bother
keeping such flora and fauna since we can simply pop over to neighbouring
countries to see them. Or statements such as: we should be concerned
with gaining profits and places like these can be sacrificed. Because
they are too small and insignificant. Singapore is small too.
RE:
A Casino in Singapore?
Lai CF 15/04/2004 10:27:09PM
Agreed that gambling is highly addictive. Agreed that gambling is
a major source of income for loan sharks. Agreed that desperate housewives
are selling their bodies to clear gambling debt. Agreed that casino
is a powerful lure to the young and the impressionables. Agreed that
their is a correlation between casino gambling and increase in social
problems. Agreed that Singapore will lose its "Squeaky clean" image.
But all these above problems are occurring and maybe on the rise due
to the existing "casino" in Singapore: - TOTO & 4-D Betting shops
in HDB estates - Kranji Turf Club - Private clubs jackpot machines,
Card and Mahjong Rooms.
How can a casino can be any worse than the present situation where
they are ample opportunities to gamble "legally" in Singapore. Ever
heard of heartlanders losing their "family" over horses and virtually
all their monthly income spent on 4-D? Ever heard of housewives losing
all their monthly expenses in illegal casino and those casino-liners?
If we are so strongly against gambling, then please start by getting
all those Betting shops out of HDB estates. They are a "family breakers"
by encouraging heartlanders to spend a substantial amount of their
income trying to hit the "Big" one. Ever seen a $500 "Big" and $500
"Small" plonked by a heartlanders on a spur of moment? Ever visit
Cecil Street on Saturday afternoons? Basing on the same argument,
Kranji Turf CLub must be banned as it is a curse to families when
the sole bread-winners blow away their monthly salary and more in
one single afternoon. There is where "Ah Long" make his fortune as
well. WHy take half-measure to ban casino only, why not ban those
"existing casinos" as well as it is really a bane to happy family
life. For those ANTI-casino, there is no such thing as certain form
of gamblings are acceptable and only casino gambling is unacceptable.
You either ban all form of gambling or nothing. There is no such thing
as a half-virgin. By allowing pub, massage parlours, Geylang, Bugis
Street (Changi Village now), etc..Singapore had already lost its "squeaky
clean" image. But it was never there in the first place. SIngapore
is the original Sin City '50s.
Agreed that Southern Islands will be "destroyed". But why moan now?
Destruction occurred 5 year ago when Pamela Lee (STB) unveiled the
Master Plan to merge all the Southern Islands into a "Capri". Isn't
a bit too late to cry over spilled milk when reclamation work started
long time ago.
RE:
A Casino in Singapore?
Rosalind Tan 16/04/2004 10:44:27AM
I do not wish to go into the morality of gambling or its encouragement.
I just wish to point out that the proposal to build a casino will
harm the beauty of nature and its creatures irretrievably. As it is,
Singapore is pretty much an urban jungle and too many residents of
Singapore and visitors lament Singapore's lack of natural beauty.
That both residents and visitors enjoy and clamour for an opportunity
to go into nature for respite is patent from the number of visitors
to Ubin and the continuously fully booked tours for Chek Jawa? too
many people complained of their inability to get onto the Chek Jawa
tours despite attempting to book months ahead!
What is sad about the proposal to build a casino in the Southern islands
is that we cannot redo what had been destroyed if it turns out to
be another Sentosa disaster? we cannot say "Oops we made a mistake"
and do a `U-turn' like we are now doing with Sentosa (I have lost
count of how many "refurbishment" and various concept changes we made
there making Sentosa more plastic and hideous with each "improvement"),
education policies, "Stop at Two" policies and similar `brilliantly'
ill-conceived ideas.
The flora and fauna which form the biodiversity of the Southern Islands
and what little "untouched" parts of Singapore hang on a fragile balance,
should we help to wipe out even more species into extinction? Can't
we just leave them to thrive for future generations? Or must we always
be tempted to justify our `brilliance' by tinkering with beauty of
nature and creating colossal mausoleum which nobody wants in any case.
Should the beauty of nature be appreciated only by people who can
afford to visit foreign countries such as Great Barrier Reef, Rockies
etc while mere mortals whcih form the majority of Singaporeans drool
over videos (if they can afford it) of nature in foreign land? I hope
reason and respect for the environment and all its living creatures
will prevail.
I also attach a feedback received from a friend who is currently out
of Singapore.
To FEEDBACK UNIT
I Can't Believe there are really plans to reclaim the Southern Islands
for a CASINO - it's bad enough they have been manicured nearly 2 decades...now
there'll totally RUIN it! A Casino brings lots of social problems
as well! - in Australia towns where they have Casinos they have to
bring in the SOCIAL WORKERS prior to starting Casinos, especially
where there is a large Asian-Chinese population (Joyce too much work
for you there!!!)
This Project will DESECRATE any Nature Areas we have left on our Islands
COMPLETELY - It's Insanity!
Why DOES a Casino (if Singapore is so desperate to have one - aren't
revenues from other socially destructive activities like alcohol &
ciggies not enough?) have to be built on a southern island anyway?
Why not have it atop the Mandarin, or Suntec City? Then those who
lose their pants can jump from the top!!!
Any Nature loving, socially RESPONSIBLE person MUST Oppose this Madness
Betty Lau (Betty L Khoo) email starfish@pulua.cx,
RE:
A Casino in Singapore?
No Sacred Cow 16/04/2004 11:13:25AM
the benefits of casino far far outweights the purpose of preserving
eco-life. do you want hundred thousands of unemployed,collapse of
community services,collapse of charities,close down of Esplanade/Sport
facilities and collapse of community homes so as to preserve of eco-life
?
we are fully dependent on gambling revenues to provide the community
services,jobs and charities etc. no leader would sacrifice mankind
just to preserve non-mankind things such as eco-life or animals.
if we have to cull chickens or cats to save mankind, our leaders will
do so as evidenced by episodes of sars and bird flu. similarly, eco-life
is no sacred cow if we need to provide good for our society. cull
eco-life to provide more good for our community.
kudos to our govt for building a land of opportunities. casino on
Sentosa Cove will be the beginning of more good to come.
RE:
A Casino in Singapore?
Save Lives 16/04/2004 11:51:21AM
"cull" eco-life and anti-casino to save millions of Singaporeans dependent
on revenues from casino. save casino to save lives of Singaporeans.
RE:
A Casino in Singapore?
KC_alpha 16/04/2004 10:19:18PM
There're valid concerns rise by everyone here. What I want to reinforce
is that nothing is for certain. We must weigh pros & cons against
the objectives and make sure we mindfully execute to realise set objectives.
I love nature too becos I learnt a lot from it, it's like my silent
teacher. Yet I know too little about its presence in Sentosa/ southern
islands to recommend much. I hope human beings can always aim to co-live
this world with nature, becos if we don't, it'll be too late if they
leave us or turn against us. |
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