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NewsAsia, 30 Aug 04
Singaporeans split over casino: NewsRadio
93.8/TODAY survey
By S Ramesh
Singaporeans are split over the idea of a casino, but many think the
pro-family measures will work. This was the conclusion of a survey
of some 140 people about Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong's first National
Day Rally Speech.
The survey, carried out by Media Research Consultants, was commissioned
by NewsRadio 93.8 and MediaCorp's TODAY newspaper.
Should the Government allow a casino to be built within an integrated
entertainment centre? This is the one issue Mr Lee spoke about during
his first National Day Rally speech that has attracted mixed views.
A total of 36 percent of Singaporeans say the Government should not
go ahead with the plan, even if there are measures to minimise the
social risk. But 39 percent say it is okay to have a casino; 20 percent
have no opinion and the rest refused to comment.
"Some people told me don't raise it, your first rally speech, very
dangerous. We have to be prepared to accept a diversity of views and
to listen to the debate. The government will consider all views before
deciding," Mr Lee said on August 22. And Singaporeans believe Mr Lee.
Some 63 percent are confident that their views will be taken into
consideration by the government, while only 4 percent think they will
be ignored. The rest either had no opinion or refused to answer the
question.
While the survey found that views are sharply divided over the casino,
Singaporeans were much more supportive about the pro-family measures.
Six in 10 think the measures, like longer maternity leave and lower
maid levies, are bold and will boost birth rates.
On the whole, almost 75 percent of those surveyed say they are confident
about Singapore's future under Mr Lee. Some 21 percent had no opinion,
4 percent refused to answer and only one person surveyed said he was
not confident. The survey participants are aged between 15 and 50.
Seventy are men and 73 women; 24 percent, the largest group of participants,
are blue collar workers. |
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