Integrated Resorts- How far do you agree with PM Lee’s decision? Propose a solution to any 2 social repercussions encountered.

Choosing whether to set up the IR must have been a difficult decision for Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong. IRs are resorts that contain casinos that avid gamblers patronize. Many take it as a place to strike rich excluding those that are already rich. Furthermore, building IRs are a major way to boost Singapore’s economy which has been facing intense competition from other destinations around the region, particularly from nearby Bangkok and Hong Kong, which has since also considered legalization of casinos in the wake of initiatives in Singapore. Even closer to home, Malaysia has long had a legal casino cum theme park on Genting Highlands, which proved popular with Singaporean tourists.

Hence, due to the extreme effects IRs might have, there were fierce debates on whether it should or should not be set up. I for one agree with PM Lee’s decision.

We all know that due to Singapore’s limited land space and resources, we have very few industries. Hence, we heavily rely on tourism and the export market. Presently, tourists that visit Singapore stay no more than 5 days, if we increase their time spent here, our economy will definitely benefit from it. So, what must we do to persuade them to stay? Building more zoos, bird parks, theme parks and shopping malls will not increase their stay because we already have those. However, building an IR, which we do not have presently, will get the job done. We cannot deny that building the IR is a necessary evil if we want our economy to improve. Everything comes at a cost, this applies to the IR as well however, we must find ways to reduce that cost instead of totally rejecting the product.

Building the IR not only attracts more tourists, it also provides lots of jobs for the jobless. In the current economic condition, there are more jobless people than jobs available. Hence, the jobs provided by the IR will come especially in handy at this period of time. This will also contribute to the economy greatly.

As I have said earlier on, everything comes at a price. Hence, the price will be social repercussions. The most obvious one will be gambling addiction due to man’s lust for greed. Following that will be a string of problems like money related crimes, breaking up of family and so on.

I suggest that family with members that are gambling addicts step up to ban their own family members. Heavy counselling should also be used on addicts. People who are already in dire straits should be banned from entering the casinos and so on.

All in all, I think that IRs are not totally a bad thing and we should embrace it with open arms. However, I think that we must learn to reduce the impacts of the consequences so that are society is not harmed by it.