Rep: Ban buses to casinos

Rep: Ban buses to casinos

A WORRIED assemblyman has urged the state to ban direct buses from the state to Singapore casinos.

Datuk Tee Siew Kiong (BN-Pulai Sebatang) said the step was necessary to curb gambling among locals who are spending an average of RM7mil daily at the casinos.

“Local travel agencies should also be banned from arranging direct trips to casinos on the island.

“I have received complaints of people who have used up their savings and sold their houses to feed their gambling addiction,” he said.

Tee added that about 30 buses travel to the casinos across the causeway every day.

“The locals spend an average of S$1,000 (RM2,400) each daily.

“These buses are even paid a commission of RM2,600 to RM2,700 for each trip by the casinos.

“Because it is so easy to travel there, many locals are now gambling their savings away,” Tee said at the state assembly sitting here yesterday.

Besides the buses, about 500 cars also travel to the casinos daily.

“An estimated 3,000 Malaysians are believed to be actively gambling at the casinos.

“This results in a monthly gambling expenditure of about RM200mil,” he said.

Tee also urged the government to implement a system to deter-mine those who actually spend money at tourist attractions in the state.

“We know that millions of foreigners enter the state yearly but how many of them are actually spending money at local attractions?,’’ he asked. Tee suggested that travel agencies should only bring visitors to tourist destinations in the state.

“These agencies should also prove their visit by producing stamps from each destination they go to,” he said.

Tee added this could help the state gauge the actual number of tourists that come here.