BETTING AND SWEEPSTAKE DUTIES (AMENDMENT) BILL

Order for Second Reading read.

7.46 p.m.

The Minister for Finance (Dr Goh Keng Swee): Mr Speaker, Sir, I have the Yang di-Pertuan Negara's recommendation to proceed with this Bill.

Sir, I beg to move, "That the Bill be now read a Second time."

This House is aware that both the Governments of Singapore and the Federation of Malaya have been seriously troubled for a great number of years by the operations of bookmakers who have not only deprived the State of legitimate revenue but have also permeated every walk of life to the extent that they have become a menace to society. It is this Government's policy to wipe out this form of illicit gambling which goes on on a large scale in Singapore, since it undermines the welfare and morale of the people. Gambling has therefore to-be confined within the limits permitted by the law so that the State and the people can be protected. To this end, Government is introducing three related Bills incorporating the recommendations-of the various committees which have been set up to examine the problem of illegal betting.

The present Betting and Sweepstake Duties Ordinance provides for betting on the totalisator or pari-mutuel and sweepstakes promoted by racing clubs and associations by the members only. It is because the general public is excluded from participating in these games of chance that the bookmakers have been able to exploit the situation. Therefore, by throwing open to the public participation in the properly organised and legal activities of such clubs and associations, by allowing these clubs and associations to sell sweepstake tickets partly in Singapore and elsewhere, bookmakers will be driven out of business. In addition, it is intended to provide for the collection of duty on any other kind of betting that may be promoted by racing clubs or associations which is made or conducted through any totalisator or pari-mutuel.

I believe, Sir, that these amendments will once and for all take care of what has been a serious loss of revenue and a danger to the healthy development of our society.

Sir, I beg to move.

Question proposed.

Tun Lim Yew Hock: The Minister, in moving the Second Reading of the Bill, has made reference to this curse which is not only confronted by the Singapore Government but also by the Government of the Federation of Malaya. Since he has brought in the Government of the Federation of Malaya, I would like to know, Sir, whether there had been any consultation with that Government before these three Bills were introduced?

Mr Thio Chan Bee: Mr Speaker, Sir, what I am troubled about is that an assurance has been given verbally that gambling facilities and so on will be reduced, but from the wording in the Bill itself it would appear that there would be an expansion of such facilities.

I notice, Sir, in this Bill before the House that the words "every" and "any" are repeated again and again. As a school master, I know what these words mean. The door is left wide open. Any body and everybody can come in. We were given the assurance that school children will not be allowed in, and so forth. I wish a provision to that effect could be put into this Bill. In any case, I hope enough publicity will be given-so that the public will expect that school children and those children of a-certain age will not be allowed to participate. For instance, clause 4 provides "Any person may buy a ticket . . .". I suppose any person may also sell a ticket. I can imagine the sale of sweepstake tickets not only to adults but also to pupils outside school premises. In spite of all that we may say, that our children will not be allowed to buy them, we may find that school boys will be buying them and saying to themselves, "Why should we study? There is no use studying and getting promotion. We can win a prize and we will be rich. There is no need for us to get employment." If old people can think in this way, what more the young people? The children will be demoralised.

Sir, I do not wish to be too difficult, but the wording in this Bill gives the impression that the Government side are also human:

"...there shall be charged a duty of ten per centum...

...there shall be charged a duty of thirty per centum...".

Sir, if the Government expects an additional revenue of $10 million, it would mean that in Singapore at least $100 million must be put down as stakes so that at least $10 million will go into the public coffers.

But I do hope that Government will really act according to their assurances that these Bills are being passed to control, limit and reduce betting and gambling facilities so that the harmful effects will not be increased.

7.52 p.m.

Dr Goh Keng Swee: Mr Speaker, Sir, this Bill is really consequential to the Betting Bill just passed. I do not think that there is very much that I could usefully say other than to point out that the Member for Tanglin has been pursued by fears of such nightmarish proportions that nothing I can say can ever have any hope of reassuring him.

Question put, and agreed to.

Bill accordingly read a Second time and committed to a Committee of the whole Assembly.

Assembly immediately resolved itself into a Committee on the Billl.-[Dr Keng Swee].

Bill considered in Committee.

[Mr Speaker in the Chair]

7.54 p.m.

Clause 1 ordered to stand part of the Bill.

Question proposed, "That clause 2 stand part of the Bill."

Tun Lim Yew Hock: Sir, I want some information from the Minister for Finance. Perhaps he will be able to tell me what it -was that the Minister for Labour and Law found difficulty in telling me just now.

The proposed section 2 (2) says that sweepstake tickets can be sold on a horse race that is run outside Singapore. Does it mean that the turf clubs in the Federation of Malaya can apply for exemption and sell tickets in Singapore? Or does it mean that the Singapore Turf Club will be allowed to sell tickets on horse races run in the Federation? This is important, Sir, because it has some relevance to the extent of gambling in Singapore.

Dr Goh Keng Swee: The latter interpretation is the correct one.

Question put, and agreed to.

Clause 2 ordered to stand part of the Bill.

Clauses 3 and 4 ordered to stand part of the Bill.

Bill reported without amendment; read the Third time and passed.