Singapore's opposition opposes casino plan

Singapore's opposition opposes casino plan

A casino in Singapore would jeopardize the city-state's "family
values" reputation and place it at risk of becoming a money-
laundering hub, the main opposition Workers' Party said on
Thursday.

In a rare policy statement from one of the few opponents to
Singapore's long-ruling People's Action Party (PAP), the Workers'
Party rejected the government's casino proposal and called for a
national referendum on the issue.

"PAP ministers who are paid world-renowned high salaries
should be able to come up with a better solution for the
economy," the Workers' Party said in a press release.

The Workers' Party, whose secretary general, Low Thia Khiang,
is just one of two non-PAP members in the 84-seat national
parliament, said a casino could jeopardize the city-state's
attractiveness for foreign tourists and workers.

"The Workers' Party does not want the international community
to identify Singapore as synonymous with casinos and gaming," it
said.

"It is also not known how having a casino will affect
Singapore's reputation as... a good place to ensure family values
and bring up children."

The Workers' Party also questioned whether planned moves by
financial authorities to tighten laws in relation to a casino
"would be adequate to prevent Singapore from being a center for
money-laundering".

The government is scheduled to announce a decision in
parliament on April 18 on whether to build Singapore's first
casino project, although Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong has made
comments that indicate it will get the go ahead.

The government has received at least 19 bids from some of the
world's biggest gaming giants, including Las Vegas-based Wynn
Resorts, US gaming giant Harrah's Entertainment and Tabcorp of
Australia.

The casino plan has sparked a rare public outcry in Singapore
where voices of dissent against the government are rarely heard.
-- AFP