Sunday, May 1, 2011

Who said Yes to the Casino


Based on the Parliament debate on the casino in April 2005 and various newspaper reports, the below is a compilation of which MPs supported or didn't object to the setting up of casinos in Singapore. [Note: These are only the MPs that spoke up during the Parliament debate, or those who were reported in the newspapers. The Parliament debate took place after Cabinet had made its decision to proceed with the casinos. There was no vote on the casino in Parliament, though several MPs proposed a vote.]

Who said “YES” or didn't say "NO" to the casino?
Party
MP
GRC in GE2011
PAP
George Yeo
Aljunied GRC
PAP
Lim Hwee Hua
Aljunied GRC
PAP
Zainal Abidin Rasheed
Aljunied GRC
PAP
Cynthia Phua
Aljunied GRC
PAP
Wong Kan Seng
Bishan-Toa Payoh GRC
PAP
Zainudin Nordin
Bishan-Toa Payoh GRC
PAP
Goh Chok Tong
Marine Parade GRC
PAP
Lee Hsien Loong
Ang Mo Kio GRC
PAP
Inderjit Singh
Ang Mo Kio GRC
PAP
PAP Seng Han Thong
Ang Mo Kio GRC
PAP
Khaw Boon Wan
Sembawang GRC
PAP
Yaacob Ibrahim
Moulmein-Kallang GRC
PAP
Lim Hng Kiang
West Coast GRC
PAP
Vivian Balakrishnan
Holland-Bukit Timah GRC
PAP
Lim Swee Say
East Coast GRC
PAP
Lim Hng Kiang
West Coast GRC
PAP
Arthur Fong
West Coast GRC
PAP
Halimah Yacob
Jurong GRC
PAP
Lee Kuan Yew
Tanjong Pagar GRC
PAP
Amy Khor
Hong Kah North SMC
PAP
Penny Low
Pasir Ris-Punggol GRC
PAP
Lim Boon Heng
Retiring in 2011
PAP
Koo Tsai Kee
Retiring in 2011
PAP
Yu-Foo Yee Shoon
Retiring in 2011
PAP
Ahmad Magad
Retiring in 2011
PAP
Ang Mong Seng
Retiring in 2011
PAP
Wee Siew Kim
Retiring in 2011
PAP
Ho Geok Choo
Retiring in 2011
PAP
Ong Ah Heng
Retiring in 2011
PAP
Ong Seh Hong
Retiring in 2011
PAP
Sin Boon Ann
Retiring in 2011
PAP
Chew Heng Ching
Retired in 2006
PAP
Ravindran
Retired in 2006
PAP
Wang Kai Yuen
Retired in 2006
PAP
Warren Lee
Retired in 2006
PAP
Tan Boon Wan
Retired in 2006
PAP
Ahmad Khalis Bin Abdul Ghani
Retired in 2006
PAP
Andy Gan
Retired in 2006
PAP
Tan Cheng Bock
Retired in 2006

Who said “NO” to the casino?
PAP
Gan Kim Yong
Chua Chu Kang GRC
PAP
Irene Ng
Tampines GRC
PAP
Tony Tan
Retired in 2006
PAP
Tan Soo Khoon
Retired in 2006
PAP
Loh Meng See
Retired in 2006
WP
Low Thia Khiang
Aljunied GRC
SPP
Chiam See Tong
Bishan-Toa Payoh GRC
NSP
Steve Chia
Pioneer SMC


Interesting points:
1)     George Yeo suggested and pushed for the casino (when he was Minister for Trade and Industry in 2004) – in Goh Chok Tong’s words, he “persisted”.
2)      Only 5 PAP MPs rejected the casino, including DPM Tony Tan. 3 of them have retired. Irene Ng is still around. Gan Kim Yong is now Manpower Minister.
3)      44 PAP MPs spoke up in Parliament on this issue in Apr 2005. Tony Tan didn’t, but expressed his views in the Straits Times earlier.
4)      Many PAP MPs and Ministers did all the hand-wringing in Parliament, citing their many reservations, but explaining their coming round to the view that the casino would bring economic benefits.
5)      The Malay MPs were urging the Malay community to be pragmatic, to move on and focus on other important issues.
6)      All 3 opposition MPs rejected the casino.

Some interesting excerpts:
1) Goh Chok Tong (April 2005 in Parliament):
Right from the beginning, I kept an open mind on the casino question. When the subject was first broached by George Yeo, the Minister for Trade and Industry, PM and many Ministers were against it. The project nearly did not see the light of day. 
But George Yeo persisted. As the Minister in charge of the economy, he had to persist.  I was not for or against the Integrated Resort with casino at that stage.  I kept an open mind.  I was aware of the religious, moral and social objections.  But I also knew the economic opportunities we would miss if we were to forgo the Integrated Resort.  More importantly, I was concerned over Singapore's future as a vibrant, cosmopolitan city.  During those discussions, I said that I would make up my mind only after I knew what kind of integrated resorts there would be.  I did not believe in arguing in a vacuum.  I therefore supported George's proposal to proceed to Request for Concepts stage.  Therefore, those people who think that we have already decided on the casino were wrong.  Many of us did not decide until we had seen the bids from the potential investors.

2) Wee Siew Kim (April 2005 in Parliament):
A week ago, a Secondary 3 student told me that she would deeply miss the Singapore she had grown up in.  She feared that when she grows up, she would inherit a Singapore that is a less desirable place to live in.  Contrary to what one may expect from a young person, she is not interested in a hip and happening glitter land.  Buzz is not important to her.  Her vision for Singapore is that of an incorruptible nation with high moral values and a strong social fabric.  If it is a little staid and restrictive compared to other countries, the benefits far outweigh the costs.  She said that her generation would have to pay a heavy price for the lifting of restrictions on gambling.  She dreaded the accompanying vice activities.  A Pandora's box would have been opened. 
But, Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, the economics is compelling.  We live in a rapidly changing world, one that would pass us by, if we do not adapt and not only keep pace, but leap ahead of others.  Globalisation is here to stay.  Large numbers of Singaporeans travel on a regular basis.  Keeping our borders sanitised and sterile no longer offers the guarantee of immunity that we enjoyed in the less connected world of the past.  Avoidance is no longer an option.  We might as well take the benefits and manage and mitigate the risks.  That would be the pragmatic approach, the same pragmatic approach that has brought us thus far.

3) See Loh Meng See’s principled speech here.


4) See Zainul Abidin's speech here.

References/Sources:
1) Parliament Report, 18 April 2005

2) Parliament Report, 19 April 2005

3) Parliament Report, 20 April 2005

4) Parliament Report, 21 April 2005
6) Straits Times reports



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