BETTER A CASINO THAN SLOT MACHINE

KOTA KINABALU: It is much better for Sabah to be allowed to operate a casino if the Federal Government wants to continue with the slot machine clubs in the State, said Federation of Sabah Manufacturers (FSM) President Datuk Wong Khen Thau.

"So what is the difference? Having 45 slot machine clubs in Sabah is just like having a casino. Having a casino at least can attract more tourists to come to the State, like in Genting Highland, and this can contribute to the State tourism revenue," he said.

Letting the 45 slot machine clubs to continue operating is just causing more troubles to the people in Sabah who are already burdened by the high cost of living, he told reporters when met at his office in Asian Tourism Institute (ATI) here Tuesday.

He stated this in support of Senator (MCA) Datuk Paul Kong's concern over the too many slot machines operating in Penampang district.

Saying he himself has seen quite a number of good businessmen having to close shop because of the slot machine-gambling habit, he said he is also puzzled as to why slot machines are not allowed in Sarawak.

"My personal feeling is that the government should seriously look at this problem. My concern is that whatever policy the government wants to implement, it should benefit the whole people, and not only certain individuals," he said.

Meanwhile, Wong said the Federal Cabinet Committee on Cabotage Policy's sub-committee on transportation held its first meeting in Kuching recently but the outcome was not very positive.

Nevertheless, it is keeping its fingers crossed that in the end there would be some positive results that can improve the burdening situation faced by people including the business community in Sabah.

Wong said this when asked to comment on the outcome of the said meeting, which was also participated by FSM representatives.

"We are not very positive of the outcome of this first meeting, judging from what the Transport Ministry officials were talking on the issueÉ(but) we'll keep our fingers crossed, hopefully there would be positive results," he said.

He doubted Malaysian shipping companies would be willing to let go off the policy through liberalisation, considering the amount of profit they have made from West Malaysia-Sabah shipping operations that goes up to billions of ringgit annually.

It is one of the three sub-committees set up under the said Cabinet Committee that was formed after it was proposed by the Deputy Prime Minister during his visit to Sabah a few months back.

This sub-committee is scheduled to hold its second meeting here sometime next month.

FSM has since long ago been very vocal about the Cabotage policy issue in the State, which it said has directly or indirectly resulted in high costs of living and doing business in Sabah.

It has also submitted a memorandum on the matter to the Federal Government in seeking immediate solutions.

"The FSM is still holding firm to its stand that the Cabotage policy should be done away with.

If the Cabotage policy needs to be maintained, then some form of incentives must be given to Sabah," he said.