Petition set up to bring back free shuttle bus service to Resorts World Sentosa
September 22nd, 2010 | Author: Your Correspondent
An online petition has been set up by customers of Resorts World Sentosa IR calling on PAP minister Dr Vivian Balakrishnan to bring back the terminated free shuttle bus service to the IR. (read here)
Dr Vivian dropped a bombshell when he halted the service abruptly two weeks ago on the grounds that the free shuttle bus service is “encouraging” Singaporeans to gamble at the casinos though an internal survey by RWS shows that more than 60% of the commuters do not visit the casino and the news also reported that only 2 out of 10 commuters are visiting the casinos.
Speaking in Parliament last week, Dr Vivian said:
“Even with the best preparation, casinos would still ‘test the boundaries’ from time to time. The authority’s handling of the recent violations demonstrated its ability to act decisively and quickly.”
The sudden termination without warning by MCYS had caused tremendous inconvenience and distress to commuters and bus drivers alike.
However for some strange reasons, the government-owned Singapore Bus Service is allowed to continue its five trunk services to the IRs. Neither is the free shuttle bus service from Toa Payoh interchange to the Singapore Turf Club stopped.
The petitioners also proposed some “constructive” alternatives for Dr Vivian to curb gambling among locals:
1. Raise the casino levy to an obscene amount like S$500-S$1000 per day and to eliminate the option of having a yearly casino levy. This will effectively stop all lower/middle income patrons from visiting the casino.
2. The Government should also mandate that all patrons should have a minimum annual income of $S30,000 to ensure that in event the casino patrons are truly addicted to gaming, they have a means to support their gaming habits. Their monthly casino expenditure should also be capped based on their monthly income. The number of times a person can visit the casino should also be capped based on their monthly income.
It is highly unlikely that Dr Vivian will rescind his unfathomable decision and bring back the free shuttle bus service. After all, he is a multi-millionaire PAP minister who can “do no wrong.”
September 22nd, 2010 | Author: Your Correspondent
An online petition has been set up by customers of Resorts World Sentosa IR calling on PAP minister Dr Vivian Balakrishnan to bring back the terminated free shuttle bus service to the IR. (read here)
Dr Vivian dropped a bombshell when he halted the service abruptly two weeks ago on the grounds that the free shuttle bus service is “encouraging” Singaporeans to gamble at the casinos though an internal survey by RWS shows that more than 60% of the commuters do not visit the casino and the news also reported that only 2 out of 10 commuters are visiting the casinos.
Speaking in Parliament last week, Dr Vivian said:
“Even with the best preparation, casinos would still ‘test the boundaries’ from time to time. The authority’s handling of the recent violations demonstrated its ability to act decisively and quickly.”
The sudden termination without warning by MCYS had caused tremendous inconvenience and distress to commuters and bus drivers alike.
However for some strange reasons, the government-owned Singapore Bus Service is allowed to continue its five trunk services to the IRs. Neither is the free shuttle bus service from Toa Payoh interchange to the Singapore Turf Club stopped.
The petitioners also proposed some “constructive” alternatives for Dr Vivian to curb gambling among locals:
1. Raise the casino levy to an obscene amount like S$500-S$1000 per day and to eliminate the option of having a yearly casino levy. This will effectively stop all lower/middle income patrons from visiting the casino.
2. The Government should also mandate that all patrons should have a minimum annual income of $S30,000 to ensure that in event the casino patrons are truly addicted to gaming, they have a means to support their gaming habits. Their monthly casino expenditure should also be capped based on their monthly income. The number of times a person can visit the casino should also be capped based on their monthly income.
It is highly unlikely that Dr Vivian will rescind his unfathomable decision and bring back the free shuttle bus service. After all, he is a multi-millionaire PAP minister who can “do no wrong.”
