THE Government is investigating the provision of free bus rides in Singapore to the two integrated resorts by their operators.
The probe, announced on Wednesday by the Ministry of Community Development, Youth and Sports (MCYS), is to establish that Singaporeans are not targetted and encouraged to go to the casinos at the integrated resorts (IRs).
It comes amid protests from MPs like Mr Liang Eng Hwa who, in an interview with The Straits Times, said the free rides encouraged Singaporeans in the heartland to gamble at the casinos.
Following queries from The Straits Times, the ministry said in an email reply: 'We are investigating the provision of free transport by the IR operators. The IR operators will not be allowed to target the local market or provide incentives in any form for Singaporeans to patronise the casinos.'
Both IRs provide free bus services. Marina Bay Sands free shuttle is between the resort and Changi Airport and hotels in the Marina Bay area. The free shuttle of RWS are available at two spots in the Central Business District as well as 12 HDB town centres, including Ang Mo Kio, Jurong East, Tampines and Bedok.
When contact, RWS said 'we do not provide special casino incentives to Singaporeans'. It also released its own survey of 2,500 users of the free shuttle and it shows 'more than 60 per cent' do not go to the casino.
it was in yersterday's news .
SINGAPORE - This weekend will see the last of the popular Resorts World Sentosa (RWS) free shuttle buses plying through the housing estates.
In a statement released late last night, RWS said it was "voluntarily withdrawing its shuttle services in the spirit of collaboration with the Singapore Government".
A total of eight services running through Bukit Merah, Queensway, Bedok, Choa Chu Kang and Bukit Panjang, Tampines, Jurong East, Ang Mo Kio and Bishan, as well as Tiong Bahru will be stopped with effect from 11pm on Sunday, RWS spokesman Robin Goh said.
Mr Goh told MediaCorp that the remaining shuttles running through the Central Business District, Orchard and Marina areas will continue.
The other IR, Marina Bay Sands, also offers shuttle services between the resort and Changi Airport, as well as hotels in the Marina Bay Area.
RWS' announcement yesterday comes one day after the Ministry of Community Development, Youth and Sports (MCYS) announced it was investigating the shuttle services.
MCYS had said that the integrated resorts operators "will not be allowed to target the local market or provide incentives in any form for Singaporeans to patronise the casinos".
Hours before RWS' announcement, MediaCorp visited the pick-up points in Bishan and Bedok and observed that demand for RWS' shuttle services - which had operated as scheduled - remained strong, in spite of the authorities' investigation. Passengers interviewed had hoped the shuttle services would stay.
"It's convenient for people to visit not just the IR but also Sentosa," said Mr Shahary Mohd Yunus, 22.
He was accompanying his girlfriend, who works at an RWS eatery and takes the shuttle daily.
"Without the bus, business there won't be as good," said a 53-year-old who wanted to be known only as Mrs Lee.
Her group of four hopped onto the bus at Bedok at about 10am, went to the beach and had lunch at Underwater World before catching a ride back at about 5pm.
The strong demand for the free shuttles saw passengers at the Bishan pick-up point like development manager Alan Tan, having to wait for the next bus when the 3.10pm bus was full.
"I didn't expect it to be so full at this time," said Mr Tan, who was with his wife and son.
The next bus - 30 minutes later - was also packed, having arrived from the Ang Mo Kio pick-up point. The Tans almost did not make it onto the bus, but the driver found seats for them. About seven people had to wait for the next bus.
Of the 10 people approached by MediaCorp, two were heading to the casino.
Heard on morning news they taking out the bus service liao
wah lan eh ask them dun be lame lah. free service den must go casino ar. like that then cut off all the bridge link, cable car and lrt link to sentosa lah, then get pple who want to go resort world to take ferry to sentosa loh. since dey say dey dun provide incentive to singaporean going casino. Resort world = casino ar. No right?
Originally posted by hiphop2009:wah lan eh ask them dun be lame lah. free service den must go casino ar. like that then cut off all the bridge link, cable car and lrt link to sentosa lah, then get pple who want to go resort world to take ferry to sentosa loh. since dey say dey dun provide incentive to singaporean going casino. Resort world = casino ar. No right?
LOL... My as well say build it on Christmas Island. Take aeroplane... LOL...
Originally posted by Junyang700:LOL... My as well say build it on Christmas Island. Take aeroplane... LOL...
ya lorh. I can understand the Ministry's concern but isnt the casino already charging Singaporean 100 bucks levy entry fee?
Both IR's dun mainly focus on Casino and pple take shuttle bus = more incentive go casino?
Might as well keep Sentosa off to Singaporean so they dont have to worry Singaporean going to Casino?
IMM provide free shuttle bus service, would the MP complain that it is to bring people to Giant Supermarket only?
oh, no free bus liao, good for TD lor, actually there are many old people in singapore who do not know where to go, so they take free shuttle bus here and there...haiz, poor thing
all thks to dos MPs who has got nthg new or constructive to argue over.
they called taxi co to hope for more taxi?
this action is really disapponting..
if a person wants to gamble, even there is no shuttle bus service to the casino, he/she will find some other ways to reach the casino.
They need money from the gambling taxes, but then hope most Singaporeans do not gamble inside. They also hope those who gamble inside dont lose too much, or that if they lost too much, dont do something stupid and make government look bad. It just looks to me that government is getting very desperate at finding new ways to drive the economy forward, yet still trying very hard to give the impression that everything is ok. Singapore being such a small country, is counting on the world not to go into a double dip recession. Because hey, if it happens soon enough it is really going to screw them very badly in the elections.
Now that we have legitimate gambling and prostitution, I was wondering what other vices are they planning to exploit economically?
Uniquely Singapore.
Introduce something, and then place restrictions.
Originally posted by f1taxidriver:They need money from the gambling taxes, but then hope most Singaporeans do not gamble inside. They also hope those who gamble inside dont lose too much, or that if they lost too much, dont do something stupid and make government look bad. It just looks to me that government is getting very desperate at finding new ways to drive the economy forward, yet still trying very hard to give the impression that everything is ok. Singapore being such a small country, is counting on the world not to go into a double dip recession. Because hey, if it happens soon enough it is really going to screw them very badly in the elections.
Now that we have legitimate gambling and prostitution, I was wondering what other vices are they planning to exploit economically?
maybe drug, like in holland, their coffeeshop legalise controlled drug consumption, anyone above the legal age can go smoke marijuna or spike up their coffee with some coke. Maybe govt will legalise Gay Club...see so many at tanjong pagar and circular road..
Originally posted by bowah:maybe drug, like in holland, their coffeeshop legalise controlled drug consumption, anyone above the legal age can go smoke marijuna or spike up their coffee with some coke. Maybe govt will legalise Gay Club...see so many at tanjong pagar and circular road..
Space cake..... i like....... :P
Probably that eat into the bus companies' profit. So have to kill it off lah.
When they approved the IR, they emphasized that the casino component is a very very very small portion only, about 2% IIRC. Now they say taking FREE bus service to the IR means they must be going to gamble. How f**king lame is it.
But I thought that is a good news for TDs, right?
Originally posted by Insg:Probably that eat into the bus companies' profit. So have to kill it off lah.
When they approved the IR, they emphasized that the casino component is a very very very small portion only, about 2% IIRC. Now they say taking FREE bus service to the IR means they must be going to gamble. How f**king lame is it.
Eat into SMRT profits. SMRT provides 6 payable bus services to RWS. There is a relationship between SMRT and Temasek Holdings.
Surely there is a hidden agenda.
Originally posted by Junyang700:LOL... My as well say build it on Christmas Island. Take aeroplane... LOL...
Christmas island now belongs to Australia. The furtherest we can build it is on Pedra Branca which now officially belongs to Singapore, but has to reclaim land first because Pedra Branca is just a piece of rock with a lighthouse on it.
So SMRT is the real complainant.
All these are politics.
I don't understand why PAP is doing this before the election. In fact, if they want to they should do it after the election.
Now PAP is in damage control mode, but they are doing more damages to Singaporeans and coming out with bullshits and lame excuses with their millions dollar salary.
Do we want this type of political party to govern Singapore for another 50 years? First thing we can do is to vote alternate parties into parliament to deny PAP the two-third majorty at this coming election.
Malaysians have done it, are Singaporeans ready?
Originally posted by mancha:So SMRT is the real complainant.
They want to bao gar riao..
dun you noticed SMRT been taking lots of contract recently i.e. Air Show and so on.
SMRT is now a real profit making tool.
Originally posted by sbst275:
They want to bao gar riao..dun you noticed SMRT been taking lots of contract recently i.e. Air Show and so on.
SMRT is now a real profit making tool.
Anything government related must die die make money.