Are we gambling with the CASINO idea?

For those who don't live in Singapore, one of the hottest topics now is: what will the Government's decision be on the plan to build a casino in this place we call "home"? We will know by Apr 18, 2005 (mark this date anyway, it will be significant for historians down the years), but the informal and formal debates on the pros & cons of having a casino here have started some time back, since the idea was first mooted publicly.

Many a great articles have been written to urge the Government to exercise greater caution in matters like this, not to over-emphasize the supposed monetary & economic benefits at the expense of social costs. Everyone who has lived in Singapore long enough will know that this is a nation built upon solid core values that deals very much with the individual - such as integrity, honesty, accountability, diligence, excellence, meritocracy, etc; values that essentially don't gel well with the notion of a society that promotes gambling as a livelihood. That is perhaps why a greater part of this society has voiced strong reservations about bringing a casino into our soils.

No nation has reached a "developed" status because of short cuts like promoting gambling, adult entertainment, prostitution or other vices. Likewise, no nation should feel compelled, or that it can afford, to promote such vices simply because it has become developed. It is strange that we have chosen to even think about introducing a casino here in the very first place.

Singapore has always been a maverick of sorts, choosing unconventional approaches to achieve excellence in what she does. We do not merely follow what others have done, but we observe, study, adapt, and invent. As a result, we have produced world-class achievements in many areas, notably our political stability, our infocomm & business infrastructure, our education system, our efficiency, and our people, among others. The Singapore we see today is the result of much heralded foresight in policies and decisions made much earlier. Take the example of the "notorious" & now world-famous chewing gum ban. Decades later, other developed nations are still struggling with the cost of cleaning up after gums, and gum manufacturers haven't found a better way, despite innovation and technological advances, to make gum that requires less maintenance costs. So we eradicated millions of dollars of unproductive costs with that single decision which probably would be unthinkable (still) among leading nations.

In recent years we loosened up on various areas in the name of progress. Pornography (in the form of artistic work) has found its way into cinemas; gays have found a stronger backing on various fronts; pre-marital & casual sex don't attract any more attention. Gambling, while never glamourized, is gradually becoming more acceptable as a way of life. Recently, our newspapers reported a new craze in the form of scratch-and-win cards which saw whole families scratching away for a chance to win some money. We have newspapers dedicated to reporting soccer news that are a regular stable for soccer bettors. Lottery news and tips are available easily through SMS from all major telco providers. The consequences for these changes in our society may not be easily seen or felt till years down the road, by which time, damage, possibly irreparable, would have been done, and any talk about accountability wouldn't make things easier to swallow.

Accountability, by the way, starts with the decision-making process, not in taking responsibility when the decision turns out bad. For a decision on a matter which many Singaporeans have spoken up voluntarily without much persuasion (and for the record, this is rare in Singapore), it's a matter which merits a more unconventional decision-making process. It's time we summon the Singapore hallmark of thinking & acting unconventionally.

Put aside the fact that no other referendum has been called in Singapore other than the independence matter. Put aside the glossy reports from consultants who have not lived with us in the nation-building years and who do not truly have a stake in our national well-being. Put aside the challenging goal we have set for ourselves for the tourism business.

Just do one thing. Listen to our conscience. Is this something we would proudly declare to our loved ones and next generation of nation-builders, that the Singapore casino is open for business?

May God bless you.

Category: cf_hs