SINGAPORE: A day after Marina Bay Sands (MBS)
reported its strongest quarterly performance since its opening last
year, Senior Minister of State (Information, Communications and the
Arts and Environment and Water Resources) Grace Fu voiced her
concern.
Writing on her Facebook page on Thursday, Ms Fu
said: "While I acknowledge the contribution of IRs to our economy,
I am concern(ed) about the social effects."
Ms Fu also expressed her concern over the rising
number of advertisements by moneylenders offering "quick loan/fast
cash", in Chinese dailies Shin Min and Wanbao as well as The New
Paper.
On Wednesday, Mr Sheldon Adelson, chief executive of Las Vegas
Sands - MBS' parent company - also declared that MBS is "on its way
to becoming the most profitable casino-resort ever".
He had added: "Nobody can convince me that we've even touched the
area of saturation of the market. I think Singapore's going to
continue to grow and grow and grow."
On Mr Adelson's comments, Joo Chiat MP Charles Chong noted: "If MBS
is planning to expand its non-gambling facilities, that is fine.
But if it is looking to enlarge its casinos, that will be a little
bit of a concern."
On Tuesday, the Samaritans of Singapore (SOS) expressed worries
over the spike in calls it has received about loan sharks and
gambling problems.
Ang Mo Kio GRC MP Ang Hin Kee noted that casinos have created
benefits such as jobs and economic growth but he reiterated that
management of the social ills should not just be "outsourced" to
agencies.
"The operator and economic agencies also need to be part of the
equation," he said.
Mr Chong added that if statistics show more Singaporeans entering
the casinos, the authorities could consider raising the S$100 entry
levy.
-- TODAY