IRs and its flaws

After reading the article, I sympathise with the Johor families. However, we have to admit that they are not the only victims. We, Singaporeans, may have even more "victims" compared to others.

Before the casino was open, government set rules to it. There is this one rule I remember clearly - which is, Family members are able to request for a ban of entry for a certain member. I felt that this rule was a good implemention. It allows the family to do something to help this certain member of theirs, and it also helps to control the addiction of the "gambler".
Therefore, if the Malaysians are complaining that OUR casino is taking THEIR housewives away, they should learn of this rule and do something about it. The free packages are part of "marketing strategy", and I do not agree that these packages should be removed just because of such complaints.

Quoted from the article, "Some housewives would even secretly borrow from Ah Longs (loan sharks)...to hide their gambling activities". I feel that this could not be entirely controlled by our government. If these housewives have the connections to loansharks and not "informing" the police about it, our government can not really help the Johor families to "stop" such activities.

- MELISSA

Impact on Johor families

When the Casino in Singapore is open, it is an opportunity for people to go "try" their luck and having the mindset: "a legal way to earn quick bucks". So, people will often believe in themselves that they can.

In addition, there is free daily package of transportation provided for them from Johor to Singapore which is a great advantage to them. Firstly, they can save on transport fee, secondly it would be time-saving. Last but not least, they get to "earn" money from Casino, depending on their "luck". Who would reject such a great offer?

But, the government of Malaysia is putting the blame on Singapore. However people should be responsible for their own decision and actions. So they should not push to Singapore.

Housewives who became hardcore gamblers even borrowed loans froms loansharks , which is illegal. It could land them in deep troubles. They should think twice before doing such things.

- tricia.

SG IRs ruin Johor families

Singapore's new IRs has caught attention from the whole world of course including our neighbor Malaysia.

From the news, Johor residents has greatly affected by the casino inside the IRs. It is really convenient for them to get here and gamble everyday since there are "free" buses organized by private individuals and companies to bring them to the casino everyday.

The life of some Johor family are greatly affected since about 30% of the gamblers are mainly housewives and some of them spend the whole day inside the casino and even take loans to gamble. However I think its their own responsibility to control themselves than blaming Singapore is at fault. There is casinos in Malaysia since before, so I believe the Malaysian Government do need to educate their people in gambling and control themselves. Similar cases happened in other countries all around the world and its all the countries' own responsible to educate their people and they did a good job.

Also, the Singapore Government can only "pressure" the casinos to limited the customers from Malaysia but not regulate them as it is not in the part of the deal and it will touch on politics. It takes the Malaysian Government to issue a official request to the casinos to limit its people to visit the casinos in Singapore. So before that, we can do nothing.

- by Yang Xin YU

I agree that Singapore IRs are ruining the families in the johor. In fact, i believe that all casinos are responsible for such family behaviors.

Many of these house domestic may think of casino as a way of earning big money. They are all so into it that some of them are oblivious that the casino has already taken over their life and have caused them into unnecessarily trouble such as borrowing money with the loan shark.

In fact, singapore should actually limit the number of patronage of casinos so as to reduce internal conflicts with the families. Casinos should also be more considerate and have a limitation on how much a person can gamble in the casino. Singapore should also restrict the allowance of loan sharks in Singapore and also the amount of time each person can go in for.

Casinos should really be responsible in such upturn in the society. Domestic would be less chaotic if it isnt for the Casinos.

Jeranne low

All for money.

ARTICLE

If anyone went into the website - ABCnews.com, the most eye-catching title would be "Cops: Grandma Tried to Sell Baby for $75K".

I believe that the main point of this article is not about the amount of money the baby is sold for. Its all about the blood flowing in each of them. How is the baby related to the grandma, just thinking about this would ache anyone's heart.

Indeed, when I first read this article, I was disgusted by such a beastly act! Why, just why would anyone want to sell their baby for money. Isn't contradicting, whereby people always say "Money can't buy kinship"? I guess afterall, there are people who would do anything for money.

However, when I saw the video of how grandma could NOT raise her head and face the reporters to answer any of their questions, instead my heart went out for her. I believe she might have done this in a moment of folly. As what FDLE Special Agent Wayne Ivey said : "When you look at this where the grandmother was willing to sell her own grandchild obviously to some degree for profit, it's appalling.". She could be blinded by the benefits of the profits. Through her actions (of not being able to raise her head), I believe she regretted doing this, and I believe if given a second chance, she would be the one raising her head proudly, telling the world she didn't succumb to the temptations of the benefits.

-Melissa.

Woman charged with trying to sell baby grandson in sting operation

75k US dollars, the price for the heartless grandmother to sell her grandson.

Although the movite of this shameful act was not reported but I believe there will never be a acceptable reason for someone to sell a baby. It further disgusted me that she acturally accept the negotiated price of 30K US dollars. This shows how heartless she was.

From the report, police officer Wayne Ivey said: "This transaction today was, 'Take this baby, give us our money and go.' "They were looking to sell this infant to anyone." I really do not understand what made her to make the decision of sell him without any unwillingness.

I think she should be harshly punished by law and i believe her children will never forgive her. Imagine how will grown-up grandson feel when he got to know that his inmate grandmother once tried to sell him to anyone.

After all, all thanks to the "buyer" who tipped off the cops or the criminal will never be caught in action and be punished.


Done by Yang Xin Yu

This article really disgust me. I am still in disbelief. How would anyone one bear to sell their grandchild for 75k. After all, they are blood-related. Such an cruel act is deeming inappropriate. The grandmother of the child has no humanity to even have the thought of selling her grandchild.

She have no idea how precious and important a life is and it is irreplaceable to even with money.

It clearly depicts how her greediness took over her and landed her in a mess. Or she would be having the best part of her life which was her retirement. It also shows what a person she is. She did not consider how her daughter would feel upon selling her grandchild away for money. It also shows that she is a very self centered person. She would betray everything she had for money, her own purpose.

I believe the police did a good job in arresting her and giving her her well suit-ted punishment.

JERANNE LOW JIAYING

Grandma Tried to Sell Baby for $75K

According to the article, Patty Bigbee, 45, who was arrested Friday afternoon, allegedly approached someone in October and offered to sell the baby boy for $75,000.

In my opinion, it was totally insane! It is also inhuman to sell her own grandchild. I believe every baby is a gift from god. How can she sell her own grandchild for money. Money is not everything! She shouldn't have placed money on top of her grandchild as piority.

Because of her moment of greed, it has landed her in jail. Since she had chosen this decision, she should have known the consequences. And I would not pity her for her wrong-doings because it is not her first time committing such illegal cases.

The world is really scary. But I think sometimes humans are scarier.

-TRICIA