Casino levies paid by Singaporeans and PRs at their lowest level since opening of two casinos in 2010: Tote Board Annual Report 2016/17

Singaporeans, permanent residents paid $134 million in fees in last financial year, down 21% from 2012/2013
By Theresa Tan, The Straits Times, 24 Nov 2017

Casino levies paid by Singaporeans and permanent residents (PRs) here are at their lowest level since the casinos at Resorts World Sentosa and Marina Bay Sands were opened in 2010.

The Singapore Totalisator Board (Tote Board) collected $134 million in casino entry levies in its last financial year, which ended in March this year - down 21 per cent from the $170 million collected in the 2012/2013 financial year (FY).

The sums collected for the past five financial years were listed in the Tote Board's latest annual report, which was released yesterday.

Singaporeans and PRs have to pay a $100 daily levy or $2,000 annual levy to enter a casino here.

Economist Song Seng Wun said: "The shine of the casinos and its novelty have worn off."

Also out of favour with punters: Horse racing, where turnover fell from $1.6 billion in FY2012/2013 to $1.2 billion in FY2016/2017.

But the lure of 4D, Toto and soccer betting is growing steadily, with $7.2 billion spent on lotteries and sports betting in the last financial year, 15 per cent more than the $6.2 billion in FY2012/2013.

Counsellors who work with gambling addicts said fewer Singaporeans and PRs are going to the casinos here as they are put off by the need to pay an entry levy, and opting for alternatives instead: Illegal online casinos where gamblers can bet on credit, unlike in the casinos here, where they have to fork out cash upfront to bet.

Besides, those who have lost all their money are likely to have barred themselves or have been banned from the casinos here by their families, said Pastor Billy Lee, executive director of Blessed Grace Social Services, which runs a support group for gambling addicts.

The website of the National Council on Problem Gambling shows that as of Sept 30 this year, more than 25,000 Singaporeans or PRs have banned themselves from the casinos, or their families have applied for an exclusion order to ban them from entering.

And almost 47,000 are automatically excluded as they are undischarged bankrupts or are receiving government financial aid, among other reasons.

It was previously reported that Singaporeans and PRs made an average of 17,000 visits a day in 2012, down from 20,000 visits in 2010 when the casinos first opened.

This is one of the few pieces of publicly available information on the number of local visitors, and is based on data contained in the 2013 Casino Regulatory Authority of Singapore annual report.

The sums wagered on lotteries and sports, such as soccer and motor racing, continue to climb. This has been rising each year in the Tote Board's past five financial years.

Counsellors said that the sums wagered at the legal outlets are but a fraction of the sums spent on illegal gambling. Many of the gambling addicts they see place illegal bets online.

Stricter rules for jackpot machines in clubs to guard against problem gambling

Tougher rules soon to curb jackpot machines in clubs
Measures to protect vulnerable from ills of gambling will be rolled out over next 2 years
By Seow Bei Yi, The Straits Times, 21 Jul 2017

The number of jackpot machines in Singapore could go down sharply as the football and social clubs operating them will soon have tougher rules to contend with.

The new regime, to be rolled out over the next two years, will raise the bar for securing jackpot machine permits, and there will be tighter quotas for the number of machines a club can operate.

The minimum age for entering jackpot rooms will be raised from 18 to 21, and their operating hours will be restricted as the measures aim to protect the vulnerable from the ills of gambling.

The new rules were announced by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) yesterday and target machines outside the two casinos.

They could have a major impact on the fortunes of some of the clubs running jackpot machines - including football clubs that have earned millions from this while not even fielding professional teams.

The aim is to ensure that jackpot rooms provide no more than an ancillary part of wider activities at clubs with a real social purpose and genuine membership, Home Affairs and Law Minister K. Shanmugam said at a briefing yesterday.

"Our sense is that some (operators) sort of pay lip service to the need to provide other services and focus on the jackpot machines as their primary objective. That, we cannot allow," he added.



Mr Shanmugam also said that the quota for jackpot machines will also be cut over the next two years, without giving details of the reduction.

There are now about 82 jackpot venues and almost 1,900 jackpot machines. The number of machines could drop by around a third with the new rules, said MHA.

Currently, a club may operate jackpot machines if it has at least two other recreational facilities, among other factors.

In future, to renew such permits or apply for fresh ones, a club will have to show that it provides a "suitably wide range" of social and recreational services to members. The amount of income that a club derives from jackpot machines, compared to its total income, will also be examined. Those that do not meet the tighter criteria will have to stop operating such machines by April 30 next year.

All private clubs with such machines will also need to adopt a self-exclusion scheme from next May that allows individuals with a serious gambling habit to bar themselves from entering jackpot rooms.

Online betting to be allowed from October 2016 via Singapore Pools, Singapore Turf Club

Singapore Pools and Turf Club allowed to run remote gambling platforms, but must have safeguards in place
By Danson Cheong and Melissa Lin, The Straits Times, 30 Sep 2016

Online betting will be introduced in Singapore over the next two months after lottery operators Singapore Pools and Singapore Turf Club were given the go-ahead to run online betting platforms.

The two operators will be exempted from the Remote Gambling Act, which outlaws online and phone gambling, said the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) yesterday, confirming a recent Straits Times report that had flagged this.

But the operators have to put in place safeguards, such as allowing only those above 21 to open accounts and requiring players to set daily limits on how much they want to spend on online gambling.

Singapore Pools will launch its online betting services on Oct 25 and the Turf Club will launch its new Web and mobile platform on Nov 15.

Punters can place bets only for 4D, Toto, football, F1 and horse-racing. Casino-style games or poker will not be allowed.

The exemptions will last for three years and the operators can apply for their renewal.

Since the Act came into force in February last year, several hundred websites offering remote gambling services have been blocked. More than 120 people have been arrested for remote gambling offences.

The Act was passed into law in late 2014 following intense debate spanning the political spectrum, and the move to grant the exemptions once again reignited concerns that this will make online betting more accessible and lead to an increase in gambling addictions.

Said Holland-Bukit Timah GRC MP Christopher De Souza: "If, by providing the exemptions, more Singaporeans are attracted to online gambling and this in turn increases gambling addiction cases, then I would be highly concerned.

"But if the number of online gambling addiction cases goes down as a result of having this regulated regime, it will be a significant advantage. The converse result would be immensely unfortunate - especially for family members."

Desperate housewives and the lure of chap ji kee

The story of the game known as 12 Cards sheds light on the Chinese and their love of gambling
By Janice Loo, Published The Sunday Times, 29 Nov 2015

In 1977, Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew, explaining the need for state-run lotteries such as Big Sweep and Toto, said: "If you do not run (the lotteries), the chap ji kee man who has always swindled the people of their money is still there. It is the history of Singapore. The Chinese who travelled overseas are the biggest gamblers you can find in the world. Because to leave China was to gamble. In Manchu China if you returned you were beheaded. Because you were bringing in dangerous foreign ideas. So to leave China for Nanyang was a gamble."

Mr Lee's words point to the perennial thorny question on the control of a vice that is intertwined with the early beginnings and social history of the Chinese community in Singapore. While the allure of chap ji kee has faded, it had, for more than half a century, been the most entrenched and widespread form of illegal public gambling in Singapore.

THE ROOT OF ALL EVIL

In 1823, following his return from a four-year administrative stint in Java, Stamford Raffles, the founder of modern Singapore, issued orders for the suppression of gambling in the colony. Severe penalties were introduced such that "whoever games for money or goods shall receive 80 blows with a cudgel on the breech, and all money or property staked shall be forfeited to Government". This was a move to remedy what Raffles perceived as the moral laxity of the administration under the first resident, William Farquhar, who had set up gambling, opium and spirit farms against Raffles' wishes, where revenue from the sale of gambling licences was used for public works.

According to the memoirs of Abdullah Abdul Kadir, a teacher of the Malay language, the Chinese - for whom gambling was a major pastime - "sighed and drew deep breaths (with) a grim look on their faces as they grumbled and abused Mr Raffles for preventing them from gambling". Abdullah, who not only worked for Raffles as a scribe and interpreter but was also an admirer of the man, castigated the naysayers for failing to recognise that the measures were for their own good. The temptation of quick money often led to debt and crime. In his defence of Raffles, Abdullah declared: "(It) is obvious that gambling ruins people, deceives them and puts wicked ideas into their minds. Gambling is the mother of vice, and of her three children the eldest is named Mr Liar, the second Mr Thief and the third Mr Thug... it is these three persons who ruin the world."

Where are the cabs when you need them?

One reason for shortage during peak hours: cabbies who go gambling
By Christopher Tan, Senior Transport Correspondent, The Straits Times, 15 Jul 2015

It's Friday evening, and it has just started to drizzle. You try to book a taxi, but find there are none available. It is frustrating but not really surprising - it is a known fact that demand for cabs skyrockets when it rains, and on weekend nights, including Fridays.

However, besides demand spikes, there is a lesser-known contributor to the dearth of cabs when you need one: gambling cabbies.

Industry observers estimate that 5 per cent to 10 per cent of taxi drivers are habitual gamblers.

Checks at carparks of the two integrated resorts reveal a sizeable number of parked cabs - often during peak demand hours for them.

On horse-racing days - Fridays and weekends - carparks at satellite betting centres are also filled with taxis.

There are 10 such centres, and the most popular one is in Bukit Merah. A recent check revealed more than 50 cabs were parked there between 6pm and 7pm on a Friday.

Mr Neo Nam Heng, chairman of the Prime group of companies, including Prime Taxi, said: "This is the worst problem of taxi drivers. And there's no rule to stop them."

Prime Taxi general manager Eric Ang said: "Gamblers do not only miss rental payments, they are not meeting service requirements too.

"Their mentality is strange - instead of making money during the peak period, they'd rather gamble. Some of them will say, 'If I win, I will win more than the rental.' "

Premier Taxi managing director Lim Chong Boo said: "It is not a new problem, and it has worried us a lot all this while."

Trans-Cab general manager Jasmine Tan said gambling is one of the top causes of drivers missing rental payments, "but so are drinking and womanising". "We try to help them by giving them a repayment scheme. But if they don't follow it, we terminate their contract."

A ComfortDelGro spokesman said gambling is not a major problem, but that it is keeping a close watch on the situation.

The phenomenon is no comfort to commuters, who complain that it is often hard to find a cab even though Singapore has the highest taxi population per head among developed cities.

There are 5.2 cabs per 1,000 residents, compared with 3.3 in London, 2.6 in Hong Kong and 1.5 in New York.

The situation is such that commuters are now choosing parallel taxi services offered by apps firms such as Uber and GrabTaxi - even when the cost of a ride is often much higher than that of a conventional cab.

Asia-Pacific's bet on casino-fuelled economic growth

Billion-dollar integrated resorts are sprouting across the region. What will it mean for Singapore?
By Grace Leong, The Straits Times, 9 Jun 2015

THE Asian gaming industry is going through a shake-out as China's corruption crackdown and slowing economic growth are scaring off its golden goose from Macau - high-stakes Chinese gamblers.

But casino operators are betting that the downturn is temporary and that the drop in VIP gaming revenues will bottom out. Across Asia, the race is on to open more integrated resorts in the region.

By 2020, analysts say the Asia-Pacific region, including Russia, could see at least 17 casino projects coming online - six in Macau, three in South Korea and at least two each in the Philippines, Australia, New Zealand and Russia's integrated entertainment zone.

As for Singapore, it has seen its share of VIP gamblers shrink in recent quarters, but analysts do not see this rash of new projects coming onstream as a threat to the Republic. The market is big enough, they say.

The race to open IRs

WHY the boom in gaming projects in Asia? The answer lies in two words: Chinese customers.

Outbound tourism from China topped 100 million travellers for the first time last year.

Hong Kong and Macau remain the biggest beneficiaries of the travel boom, but North Asia, particularly Japan, has seen rising Chinese tourist flows due to the weaker yen and relaxed visa policies.

Compassion should start in our own backyard: Tan Chuan-Jin

By Yvonne Lim, TODAY, 26 May 2015

While Singaporeans may seek to help the needy in other countries, they should not forget the underprivileged in their own backyards, said newly-appointed Minister for Social and Family Development Tan Chuan-Jin.

Mr Tan, who took over the portfolio last month, reminded some 200 students at Ngee Ann Polytechnic today (May 25) that there are many members of Singapore’s society who are struggling.

“In our own neighbourhood, there are those who need help, and there are things we can do, even at the very simple level. We don’t need to go to another country to repair villages and help the poor,” he said.

He made these remarks during a 50-minute forum, which was part of a seminar themed “What will you give up for a better society?”, organised by Ngee Ann Polytechnic’s School of Interdisciplinary Studies. Aimed at encouraging students to build a better society, it features speakers from social enterprises and organisations.

In his opening remarks, Mr Tan said that the Government cannot mandate a compassionate and caring society, but these are values essential for building a great nation.

“It is not just about economic success. Deep down, building a great nation is about having the right values. This defines who we are, it is about our soul. These are things you cannot mandate. If a nation doesn’t care, but is just being driven by individual ambition and materialism, I’m not sure if the basis of that nation will last very long,” he said.

In response to a question from the floor about what Mr Tan, in his new capacity, plans to do to help families who are struggling financially, the minister said that he would direct efforts more “upstream”, and in doing so, try to prevent social problems before they can occur.

The reasons families end up in difficult financial situations are varied, ranging from divorce, incarceration, drug addiction and overspending, and there is no “one size fits all” solution.

One example of dealing with the problem “upstream” would be to reach out to young children from broken families and support them as they grow, to give them a fighting chance to take a different path as an adult.

Parliament Highlights - 11 May 2015

Warning over private housing glut in Johor
S'porean investors could be hit if property prices fall: Lawrence Wong
By Charissa Yong, The Straits Times, 12 May 2015

THE nearly 336,000 private residential properties in the pipeline in Johor state are more than all the private homes currently standing in Singapore.

Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) board member Lawrence Wong gave this perspective in Parliament yesterday when he warned that a glut of private residences in Johor could cause a fall in property values.

Most of these residences are in the Iskandar development zone of southern Johor where many Singaporeans have invested in such properties.

In contrast, latest official figures show Singapore has 327,811 private homes. There are another 83,642 in the pipeline, including executive condominiums.

But some Singaporeans are becoming more cautious, said Mr Wong, who is also Minister for Culture, Community and Youth.

The number of Malaysian properties bought through real estate agencies in Singapore fell from 2,609 in 2013 to 838 last year.

But not everyone recognises the risks of buying property abroad, said Mr Wong, who was speaking on behalf of Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam, the minister in charge of MAS.

Lee Kuan Yew: In His Own Words

The Straits Times, 27 Mar 2015

When Parliament convened yesterday to pay homage to its longest-serving member, speaker after speaker referred to the major speeches that Mr Lee Kuan Yew had made in the House at key moments in the nation’s history. Perhaps the Parliament’s most electrifying presence ever, he pulled no punches and spoke with clarity and conviction on the challenges facing Singapore at various stages of its evolution.

Here are edited excerpts from 10 significant speeches he delivered in the House over his 60 years as MP for Tanjong Pagar.



Vow to cleanse the system of the evils of the past

The People's Action Party had just swept the 1959 Legislative Assembly General Election, winning 43 out of 51 seats. It was the first time the PAP, which up till then was an opposition party, had come to power. Mr Lee Kuan Yew was 35 years old when he delivered his first speech in the Legislative Assembly as Prime Minister, attacking those who stood against the PAP and even the civil servants opposed to its policy changes. He also assured voters that the PAP stood with the masses and that party leaders remained dedicated to the service of Singapore.

JULY 21, 1959

SURVIVAL

"MR SPEAKER, Sir, may I say that the PAP Government had put its cards on the table before it assumed office. We did it over three months of campaigning beginning from the famous day of 15th February at Hong Lim.

It was there the Deputy Prime Minister said things and set off a chain reaction which finally ended with the routing of the rogues and scallywags that used to haunt this Chamber.

We have placed before the people the mandate that we sought of them. We did not try to deceive anyone.

We know exactly what is expected of us because we have made these promises. Unlike the previous government, we gave no hostages to fortune.

Plainly and simply, we took the stand which we knew was necessary and in the interest of the survival of the democratic state in order, first, to cleanse the system of the evils of the past, and to retrieve some of the liberalism, the tolerance which were the good things we should carry into the future.

I tell the Opposition this. They provide us, and I hope they will continue to provide us in the next five years, with that vivid contrast which will throw up the virtues of the PAP into magnificence.

But if we fail, let me tell them that this is not a constitutional position of Tweedledum and Tweedledee, Democrats and Republicans in America, or Tories and Labour in Britain.

If we fail, and we are unable to make the system work, it is not they who are going to come back.

They will be fleeing for their lives, because behind us there is no other alternative which is prepared to work the democratic system.

And therefore, in the last analysis, if we fail, then brute force returns.

I am sure no one in this House nor anyone in the country would want this to happen. And therefore, I say to all those who wish us ill, that if we fail, woe betide them.

But to those who wish us well, I give this message. This is a Government consisting of people who put their ideas, their ideals and the welfare of their people above themselves.

This is a party which has the courage of its convictions, which is prepared to pursue what it believes to be right in the interest of the people without deviating for opportunist reasons.

This will be an era which will light up the dark pages of the history of Singapore, post 1945.

If we succeed, as we intend to, in building a climate not only of national solidarity but a climate in which the ordinary people begin to believe that institutions of government in the country are run by people who are loved and revered because they are working for the mass of the people, then we will have done a service, not only to ourselves, our party and our movement, but we will also have done a service to the democratic socialist movement.

Until the advent of the PAP, no group proclaiming the democratic socialist cause ever struck roots in the mass of the people.

Let me say, Mr Speaker, Sir, judge us not in the next five years by the standards of the British House of Commons and the British Government in Whitehall.

Judge our performance in the context of our objectives and the realities of our situation, and at the end of five years, you will certainly not find us wanting in courage, in skill, and in sincerity."

Floating casino draws Singaporeans loath to pay $100 levy at home

Gambling on the high seas
By Theresa Tan, The Sunday Times, 15 Mar 2015

It is a weekday afternoon and the Lido casino is packed with at least 500 people. There is hardly a seat available for those who also want to gamble.

There are about 40 tables offering games such as roulette, baccarat and poker. Two other rooms have more than 200 jackpot machines between them, but the crowd is thinner there.

This is the scene at the casino on board the Leisure World cruise ship, which sails in international waters off the Indonesian island of Batam and is thriving once again.

Floating casinos offering gamblers a "cruise to nowhere" took a big hit when Singapore's two casinos opened in 2010.

But the crowds have returned to the Leisure World, and they appear to be mostly elderly Singaporeans unwilling to pay the $100 levy to enter the casinos here.

A spokesman for New Century Tours, the ship's Singapore-based tour operator, told The Sunday Times: "Our business dropped drastically after the casinos opened. We had fewer than 500 passengers on some days. But as the (Singapore) casinos lost their novelty, the crowds started to come back in 2013."

Now, the spokesman said, it gets between 600 and 700 passengers daily, four in five of whom are Singaporeans, and the rest, Malaysians.

The spokesman said the Leisure World cruises "very slowly" in international waters near Batam, and has been there since the early 2000s. It is owned by Queenston Maritime, a company registered in the British Virgin Islands. New Century Tours is a Singapore travel agent.

There used to be three such floating casinos in recent years, but Leisure World is the only one known to be operating close to Singapore now.

The Sunday Times joined the crowd heading to Leisure World on a recent weekday.

Fewer hardcore gamblers now, but they are starting younger: NCPG 2014 gambling participation survey

By Janice Tai And Lim Yi Han, The Straits Times, 6 Feb 2015

HARDCORE gamblers will not bet on finding many more of their own kind now.

That is because their proportion has plunged to just 0.7 per cent of the population, a national gambling survey carried out every three years has found. This translates to about 20,000 people among those aged 18 and above.

This is the lowest figure since the first poll in 2005, when the figure was 4.1 per cent. It fell to 2.9 per cent in 2008 and further to 2.6 per cent in 2011.

On the other hand, those who are hooked are starting younger and gambling harder than before, the survey found.

The National Council on Problem Gambling (NCPG) released the findings of the poll of 3,000 Singapore residents aged 18 and above yesterday.

Some counsellors found the drop in the number of hardcore gamblers surprising as more people are seeking help on the ground.

"It could mean people know where to go for help now and the problem is being nipped in the bud," said Ms Jolene Ong, who chairs The Silver Lining, which runs gambling rehabilitation schemes.

Social safeguards that deter citizens from frequenting the casinos may also have played a part in bringing the number down.

On the other hand, the survey may not have captured those who gamble illegally, said Ms Deborah Queck, manager of Blessed Grace Social Services, which runs a recovery centre for gamblers.

The NCPG said gambling addicts remain a concern as more are gambling more frequently and starting to gamble at a younger age.

Among the more severely addicted, 83 per cent gambled at least once a week, up from 68 per cent in 2011. Most report strained family relations as a result.

"They seem to be gambling with greater intensity and less self-control, harming themselves and their families," noted Minister for Social and Family Development Chan Chun Sing, saying the NCPG will focus on this group.

As nearly one in six gambling addicts picks up the habit before the age of 18, the NCPG will expand its youth outreach programmes to teach young people to prevent, identify and deal with gambling addiction.

Remote Gambling Act that takes effect on 2 February 2015 will not affect gaming industry, says MDA

Singapore poised to block all roads to unlicensed gambling websites
By Lim Yi Han and Aw Cheng Wei, The Straits Times, 29 Jan 2015

FROM Monday, punters in Singapore will no longer be able to access a host of unlicensed online gambling sites.

That is when the new remote gambling law, which was passed last October to clamp down on unregulated online betting, takes effect, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) announced yesterday.

It is understood that the ministry has drawn up a list of online sites, including those for sports betting and casino games. Internet service providers will start blocking these sites from Feb 2.

The authorities, however, assured developers of online social games such as Candy Crush that the curbs will not impact them, as long as they do not include facilities which allow players to convert tokens into actual money or prizes in real life.

The online gambling industry here is estimated to have raked in some $500 million last year.

The Remote Gambling Act criminalises a host of remote gambling activities, which includes phone betting. Gamblers may get up to six months in jail or a $5,000 fine, with stiffer penalties for those guilty of luring people under 21.

Internet service providers and financial institutions which fail to abide by a blocking order will face punishment. There is also a ban on online gambling ads.

MHA said those providing remote gambling services have had sufficient notice of the regulations.

Since the law was passed, major foreign online gambling sites such as bet365.com have already asked Singapore customers to close their accounts. At least three banks here - DBS, OCBC and UOB - have already blocked payments to such sites.

The new law has raised concerns that social games would be hit. But the Media Development Authority said legitimate social media gaming would not be impeded.

Leader-boards which reward top players, or tournaments where players can win prizes or money in real life, will also be allowed, as long as these are not casino-style games.

Bankruptcy cases from licensed lending on the rise

By Olivia Ho, The Straits Times, 28 Jan 2015

MORE bankruptcies here are arising from licensed moneylending activities, according to a report submitted to Parliament by the Estimates Committee yesterday.

The report showed the proportion of bankruptcy orders with proofs of debt filed by licensed moneylenders jumped from 7.3 per cent in 2012 to 10.5 per cent in 2013.

There were 210 of these bankruptcy orders in 2013, up from 128 in 2012 and 80 in 2011.

Marine Parade GRC MP Seah Kian Peng said this trend might be due to the number of licensed moneylenders here peaking in 2011, when they numbered 249.

As of 2013, there were 200 licensed moneylenders.

"Due to the increased access to licensed moneylenders then, the number of bankruptcies arising from that naturally increased, following a time lag," said Mr Seah.

He said the Estimates Committee is concerned that the "amount of lending was on the rise" and stressed the need for measures, such as restricting access to lenders and lowering interest rates, to ensure that "vulnerable groups who need the service of moneylenders are adequately protected".

He added that "licensed moneylenders still have an important role to play", as the alternative would be for people to borrow from unlicensed lenders, which would be harder for the Government to monitor.

The report expressed concern that the growth of businesses such as pawnbroking and moneylending, especially in the heartland, might indicate a growing number of such transactions among vulnerable groups like lower-income Singaporeans.

Casinos, SARS top list of best remembered Singapore events: IPS Study on Perceptions of Singapore’s History 2014

IPS Study on Perceptions of Singapore’s History

New survey identifies historic events that Singaporeans are most aware of
By Charissa Yong, The Straits Times, 26 Jan 2015

THE three events most Singaporeans remember in the nation's history have been revealed in a new survey to be the opening of the two casinos in 2010, the 2003 outbreak of the deadly Sars virus and the spate of major MRT breakdowns about three years ago.

Conversely, among the least remembered events were the 1963 security crackdown Operation Coldstore, the 1987 Marxist conspiracy and the 1974 Laju ferry hijacking by terrorists.

These were the findings of a recent Institute of Policy Studies (IPS) survey of 1,500 Singaporeans, conducted through face-to- face interviews between August and October 2014. Survey participants were shown a list of 50 historical events selected by researchers - from the founding of modern Singapore in 1819 to the 2011 General Election - and asked if they were aware of each.

The survey showed Singaporeans were highly aware of key political events like former prime minister Lee Kuan Yew crying on TV on Aug 9, 1965, as he recounted the train of events that led to Singapore becoming independent after separation from Malaysia.

Events detailed intextbooks, like the landing of Sir Stamford Raffles here in 1819 and the Japanese Occupation in World War II, were also among the 10 most remembered events. About nine in 10 said they were aware of them. In comparison, fewer than one in five remembered Operation Coldstore and the Marxist conspiracy.

The IPS survey, highlights of which will be discussed at a seminar today, aims to identify the historical events that Singaporeans remember best as they mark 50 years of independence this year. It is the first study of its kind here.

Lead researcher Leong Chan-Hoong of IPS said the findings "give an idea of what could resonate as historical narratives for future generations of Singaporeans". He said the results show Singaporeans are more likely to recall recent events, adding: "The human tendency is that you tend to remember the bad things."

Parliament Highlights - 19 Jan 2015

Bill seeks to curb public drinking late at night
It also proposes ban on selling liquor at shops after 10.30pm
By Lim Yi Han and Hoe Pei Shan, The Straits Times, 20 Jan 2015

DRINKING in public places, including parks and common areas in Housing Board estates, will no longer be allowed after 10.30pm under a new Bill introduced in Parliament yesterday.

The proposed islandwide curbs will last through the night till 7am.

The Liquor Control (Supply and Consumption) Bill, introduced by Second Minister for Home Affairs S. Iswaran, will also stop retail shops from selling alcohol after 10.30pm.

There will be stricter rules for Little India and Geylang, which will be designated as Liquor Control Zones - places where there is higher risk of public disorder associated with excessive drinking.

The tougher measures will be similar to the temporary rules put in place in Little India following the Dec 8, 2013 riot there.

Drinking is currently banned in public places in Little India from 6am on Saturday to 6am on Monday, and from 6am on the eve of public holidays to 6am on the day after the holiday. The retail sale of alcohol is banned from 8pm till 6am on weekends, and on the eve of public holidays and public holidays.

* Govt moves to ban alcohol sale, public drinking after 10.30pm

In the Bill, those found guilty of drinking after 10.30pm in a public place will face a fine of up to $1,000. A repeat offender may be jailed for up to three months.

A shop which sells alcohol after permitted hours may get a fine not exceeding $10,000.

Flouting the rules in Liquor Control Zones will carry 11/2 times the penalty.

Consultations by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) showed broad support for regulations on the sale and public consumption of alcohol.

The Bill, however, has drawn a flurry of strong reactions. Liquor shops in Geylang and Little India expressed worry that their businesses would be badly hit.

More people seeking help to break chains of addiction

Increased awareness that they can be treated key reason
By Amir Hussain, The Straits Times, 25 Dec 2014

MORE people here are seeking help to kick their addictions, which include drugs, alcohol and gambling, according to Singapore's largest treatment centre.

Last year, the National Addiction Management Service (NAMS) at the Institute of Mental Health (IMH) treated 1,556 new patients - a 25 per cent increase over the 1,245 in 2010. A decade ago, the figure was just 200.

The growth is being fuelled by "increased awareness of addictions as a treatable condition, and better knowledge of the avenues of help", IMH's vice-chairman of NAMS' medical board, Dr Christopher Cheok, told The Straits Times.

While drug addicts last year formed the largest group of new cases at NAMS, at 38 per cent, the sharpest rise was in the number of gamblers seeking help. Since 2010, it jumped by about 60 per cent to hit 418 cases last year.

In comparison, the number of drug and alcohol addicts rose by about 13 per cent each over the same time.

This has seen gambling addiction catch up with alcohol addiction as the second-most-common problem, at 27 per cent each. Other patients seek treatment for other issues such as cyber and sex addiction.

Meanwhile, youth below 30 are emerging as the driving force behind rising drug-addiction figures, causing so much concern that the Government last month formed a multi-agency task force to tackle the problem. Over the past decade, the total number of drug abusers arrested has risen by an average of 2 per cent each year, but the figure for those aged below 20 is 7 per cent. For those between 20 and 29, it is an even higher 11 per cent.

Younger people tend to have a more liberal attitude towards drugs. Those aged 17 to 21 are more likely to think that "it's all right to try drugs for a new experience", a National Council Against Drug Abuse survey conducted last year showed.

Clean government - not about high salaries, but 'realistic' ones: Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong interview with Yang Lan <杨澜>

In an interview with Chinese TV personality Yang Lan on Beijing Satellite TV, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong touched on regional trade agreements, China's proposed Maritime Silk Road, and Singapore's take on the issue of clean government.
Channel NewsAsia, 11 Nov 2014

Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong indicated that Singapore would like to be a conduit for a Maritime Silk Road, mooted by Chinese President Xi Jinping. In a half-hour interview with Yang Lan on Beijing Satellite TV that was broadcast on Monday (Nov 10), he said the world is watching China’s anti-corruption drive as it could be a tremendous boost to its development and stability, and described it as an admirable effort.



He also addressed the notion of clean government in Singapore. He said it is not about high salaries, but ones that are "realistic and correct", in order to find the right people who are “most capable”, and “most trustworthy”.

Here are some excerpts from Mr Lee's interview, aired while the Prime Minister is in Beijing for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) 2014 summit.

Parliament Highlights - 7 Oct 2014

Bill on remote gambling passed

All bets are off on unauthorised websites
Iswaran explains exemptions as Remote Gambling Act is passed
By Walter Sim, The Straits Times, 8 Oct 2014

THE new Remote Gambling Act that allows for a tightly regulated form of online gambling here does not relax Singapore's stance against the vice, said Second Home Affairs Minister S. Iswaran yesterday.

Speaking in Parliament on the legislation, which was passed after a vigorous three-hour debate, he made it clear the Act "neither condones nor encourages gambling". He also rejected calls from opposition MPs - Mr Png Eng Huat (Hougang), Mr Pritam Singh (Aljunied GRC) and Non-Constituency MP Yee Jenn Jong - for it to be sent to a Select Committee to gather more feedback.

Ten Members of Parliament spoke in support of the broad intent of the new Act, which makes it illegal for gamblers to go online for a flutter on unauthorised websites from next year.

But a number of them expressed reservations over a section of the Act, which allows Singapore-based operators to apply for an online-gambling licence.

People's Action Party MPs Denise Phua (Moulmein-Kallang GRC) and Christopher de Souza (Holland-Bukit Timah GRC) said allowing any exemption sends a mixed signal.

Ms Phua urged Singapore to "take a bold step and reject gambling, whether remote or on-site". She said allowing an exempt operator seems to signal that "remote gambling is fine as long as it is under a state licence".

Mr Iswaran responded by emphasising that the new regime is "prohibitive" given that it introduces new laws to restrict nearly all forms of online gaming. It is also consistent with the country's approach towards terrestrial gambling. Mr Iswaran explained how exemptions were granted to Singapore Pools and Singapore Turf Club in the 1960s when triads and underground gambling operators were looking to get a slice of the action.

"It (the exemption) is there as part of an ecosystem that seeks to minimise the law and order concerns, and social consequences that we are concerned about," he said. A complete ban will drive all activity underground and make it harder to mitigate these social concerns, he argued.

S. Iswaran: It's about law and order, and social concerns

Next month, Parliament debates the Remote Gambling Bill. Second Minister for Home Affairs and Trade and Industry S. Iswaran, 52, tells Charissa Yong why the Government wants to draw a line in the sand on online gambling. The official point man for all things F1 here also talks about the race's future.
The Straits Times, 27 Sep 2014

Why is there now a need for the Remote Gambling Bill?

The growing reach of the Internet, mobile bandwidth, and smart devices means many people now carry a computer in their pocket. This has fuelled a global surge in online gaming. Because of that, several countries reviewed their legislation.

We are no different and need to make sure we have the regulatory levers in place to deal with online gaming, before it becomes a big problem. The laws we have governing gaming today - the Common Gaming Houses Act and the Betting Act - were enacted well before there was such a thing as the Internet, (as) the fact they talk about gaming houses tells you.


What are the concerns the Bill seeks to address?

One is about law and order. Because these operations are transnational, there is a real risk of association with criminal activities and money-laundering.

The other is the social concern. Because online gambling is ubiquitous and accessible, you don't have the usual safeguards you might put in place, say, for example, to bar the underaged from a casino. The vulnerable are more exposed to this, especially the young, because they are more tech-savvy and better able to use technology to gamble online.

Problem gamblers can seek help via webchat

Online counselling service is useful in reaching out to the tech-savvy, experts say
By Priscilla Goy, The Straits Times, 12 Sep 2104

AN ONLINE counselling service for gamblers is being tested by the authorities as lawmakers mull over the proposed Bill to curb online gambling.

Visitors to www.nams.sg can communicate round the clock with paracounsellors, who are able to provide a listening ear or support but are not certified counsellors, via a live webchat.

Experts say it is useful in reaching tech-savvy gamblers who may not be so keen to be helped in person.

The webchat has been set up by the National Council on Problem Gambling (NCPG) and National Addictions Management Service (NAMS). A spokesman for the NCPG told The Straits Times it is being developed to"expand the accessibility and availability of help services for problem gambling", adding that it is in the "final phase of pilot testing to determine the feasibility and public demand".

The chat service complements the council's existing 24-hour helpline (1800-666-8668) set up in 2009. Both allow the user to remain anonymous.

More details will be given over the next few months.

Earlier this week, a proposed law targeting online gambling was tabled in Parliament.

The Remote Gambling Bill, which could become law when it is next read in Parliament, aims to restrict online gambling through three main measures: blocking access to gambling websites, blocking money transfers to and from them, and banning advertisements which promote online gambling.