In the Name of God, Most Gracious, Most Merciful
PERGAS' RESPONSE TO THE PROPOSAL TO BUILD A CASINO IN SENTOSA
1. The current proposal to build a casino in Sentosa Island has invited various reactions. There are Singaporeans who want the Government to continue its ban on it, while others advocating that the ban be lifted.
2. PERGAS (Singapore Islamic Scholars & Religious Teachers Association) feels that it has a moral and civil obligation to express its views on the proposal. PERGAS' position on the matter echoes very much with the views of many Singaporeans who are equally concerned and well aware of the negative effect gambling has on the moral fibre of our society.
3. Although the Government has made efforts to assure the public that Singapore will not be another Macau or Las Vegas; that it is only interested in the economic boost that will come with high stakes gambling; and that certain measures will be in place to control the negative effects of gambling, we are of the view the Government has sent a wrong signal in proposing the casino idea in the very first.
4. We would like to call on the Government to search for other moral and sustainable alternatives to solutions for the current economic competitiveness. As an Islamic Organization, our uncompromising aversion to gambling is not without reasons. In the Qur'an, after acknowledging that there may be some benefits in gambling, yet it warns mankind that its harmful effects are far more numerous than its benefits. "In them is great sin, and some benefits for men, but the sin is greater than the benefit." (Quran 2:219). Hence gambling is haram [ forbidden] in Islam.
5. We posit the views that the casino proposal has more harm than benefits
out of our concern for the moral well-being of Singaporeans at large, irrespective
of our religious faiths and beliefs. There are numerous studies and researches
that have shown the harmful effects gambling has on individuals, families and
communities the world over.
6. We are aware that some people may regard gambling as an innocent recreation.
Yet, there are concerned people who acknowledge that such past-time can lead
to addiction, leading to social and moral corruption. The line between recreation
and addiction have been transgressed all too often. How do we differentiate
between gambling as an innocent activity to that where people become obsessed
and motivated by greed? The addictive effect of gambling is real and cannot
be refuted. We need not belabour the point here on the harmful effects of gambling;
they are too well known.
7. Regretfully, as a nation, our position may have already been compromised when we opt to control gambling rather than eradicate it. This lack of legal decisiveness may place our general citizenry in a dilemma, forever exposed to a potentially dangerous social practice. By not decisively nipping a potential social ill in the bud, we fear our nation may have taken that slippery road towards moral degeneration. When sensitivity to the negative effects of gambling has been numbed, we will loose all control eventually. Future efforts to educate our future generations to regard gambling as morally wrong would indeed be very difficult when we endorse, legalize and promote gambling now. What can we then hope for our nation's future?
8. We see the proposal to have a casino in Sentosa as precisely an indication of the beginning towards this downward spiral - where previous control is now proposed to be relaxed in the name of liberality. But at what cost? Plenty.
9. If we are objective and sincere in wanting the best for our nation, let us honestly ask, "What are really the benefits from gambling?" No new wealth is created from gambling except that the winners have dispossessed these from the losers. The winners will be further addicted to continue winning, whereas the losers harbour vengeance to redeem his losses by any means.
10. As to those who claim that gambling operators and casinos do indeed make
profit out of this venture, we would like to ask: "At what cost to our
society in terms of its harmful effects?" Also, another pertinent question
is "At whose cost?"
11. We fear that this so-called liberalization to embrace the casino and its ensuing culture of gambling, will undermine efforts to inculcate the practice of honesty and hard work amongst our people; to nurture a sense of gratefulness rather than greed; to build civility by removing avarice and inculcate respect for other people's possession; to promote justice and moral abhorrence to every unfair and by-chance means of acquiring wealth in our people.
12. We believe that just as economic considerations are important, so too are ethical principles. Let us not now consider taking advantage on our human weakness to make profits from these imperfections. Though individually as citizens we each may have our personal shortcomings, the ideal we set for our nation must be clear of ambiguity. The approaches toward achieving this ideal too should be seen to be consistent with our intent. We as ordinary humans may never become perfect, but at least our nation is directed in striving towards perfection.
13. We are ever hopeful that in our earnestness to build Singapore and forge success and progress for our future, we do not falter by introducing a regressive proposal in building a casino in Sentosa. Our appeal is for Singaporeans to consider where our conscience are, and to let it speak rather than allow it to be drowned by a culture of institutionalized gambling.
May Singapore be blessed and prosperous without any casino.
Majulah Singapura.
USTAZ MOHAMAD HASBI BIN HASSAN
PRESIDENT
PERGAS