KUCHING: Leaders in both sides of the political divide should treat the proposed casino at the Borneo Highlands Resort in Padawan as a pure economic project.
Kota Samarahan Municipal Council chairman Dato Peter Minos said if everyone sees and treats the casino proposal as an economic project, there would be no problem and no controversy.
Towards this end he said the Genting casino has been around for many years and has not created any problems, adding that each year millions of Malaysians and foreigners visit Genting in the peninsula.
They come from all social, religious and cultural persuasions and nobody has raised any objection, he said.
“The Genting group makes millions of ringgit and in the process, creates thousands of jobs and pays rates and taxes to the government.
“It has been a win-win project for the people and the nation.”
In this context he said if anyone sees the proposed Borneo Highland project and its casino from an odd religious angle anything can be conjured from it.
He said negative thoughts will make one forget the jobs and income to be created, businesses to be generated and opportunities of all kinds being developed.
As for concerns over gambling in a casino, Minos said the decision is best left to the people themselves.
“Who says that you must gamble when going to Genting or to the Singapore one or any casino in the world?
“Millions go to Genting for its mountainous beauty, fresh cool air and scenery, tourism attractions and such, the gambling part aside,” he added.
Minos said if the proposed casino is eventually put up by the private sector the Borneo Highland project will be a big gain for all stakeholders.
“The group (operators) will make its money, the government will receive rates and taxes, the locals get jobs plus income and other indirect benefits.
“It will be gains for all. If we in Sarawak do not try do any economic project on religious or any odd reason or ground, we will be left behind and we will not progress and grow economically. It is as simple as that,” he said.
Minos added that he is looking forward for a new and truly progressive Sarawak with many good and new things coming up, the ART, oxygen-based projects, big Bintulu projects, SME Bank, a local airline, coastal highway, solar panels, carbon storage, near-completed Pan Borneo highway, nice museum and resorts.
“All these are making us optimistic, happy and proud.
“I am confident of our future. Let us go the Singapore way…that is rapidly rising and prospering even without the natural resources and only having the positive and right attitudes and the skills and expertise of the people and wise and competent leadership,” he added.
Meanwhile a local councillor concurred with Minos, saying the project if implemented would prove to be of great advantage to the state.
“It will definitely bring revenue to the state and create job opportunities for the people, particularly the locals,” said Jimson Jium.
“The spillover in terms of economic opportunities for locals will be great.”
He added that the value of land and property will consequently spike, which will benefit landowners.
“Only those who do not want to see the state and its people progress will disagree with the project,” he said.
Recently Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing slammed Parti Islam Se-Malaysia (PAS) Sarawak commissioner Jofri Jaraiee for claiming the proposed opening of a casino in Sarawak would do more harm than good to the people.
He said the proposed construction of an amusement park and golf course including a casino in Borneo Highlands could promote tourism in Sarawak, create many job opportunities, drive the local economy and generate more income for Sarawak.
Tiong said the proposed projects are for the future development of the people in Sarawak.
