Worry over casino gambling statistics

June 19, 2012

Straits Times Forum Online

Published on Jun 19, 2012

FROM Aug 1, 3,000 people will be barred from the casinos because they, as HDB dwellers paying subsidised rates for their rental flats, have chalked up rental arrears of six months or more (‘15,000 more to be barred from casinos’; June 8).

I understand that there are more than 40,000 HDB rental flats, and if that is so, does this mean that some 7 per cent of them are in arrears over six months?

Isn’t this a rather high percentage? As to the 12,000 who are barred because they are receiving short- and medium-term help under the Community Care Endowment Fund (ComCare), what about those who are under long-term assistance under the fund?

In this connection, according to ComCare’s annual report for the financial year 2010 which ended March 31, 2011, there were 20,300 needy families under its various programmes.

I would like to suggest that the other 8,300 ComCare beneficiaries be barred too.

Leong Sze Hian

About the Author

Leong

Leong Sze Hian has served as the president of 4 professional bodies, honorary consul of 2 countries, an alumnus of Harvard University, authored 4 books, quoted over 1500 times in the media , has been a radio talkshow host, a newspaper daily columnist, Wharton Fellow, SEACeM Fellow, columnist for theonlinecitizen and Malaysiakini, executive producer of Ilo Ilo (40 international awards), Hotel Mumbai (associate producer), invited to speak more than 200 times in about 40 countries, CIFA advisory board member, founding advisor to the Financial Planning Associations of 2 countries. He has 3 Masters, 2 Bachelors degrees and 13 professional qualifications.