Stopping this will be kind of… tough

When I saw the headline, Singapore denies permit for casino protest, it could not be more obvious that a casino will be opening its doors in Singapore soon. Then I read the story, and the plot thickens. JB Jeyaratnam had applied for a permit to demonstrate at City Hall. Anyone who knows Singapore knows that if your name is JB Jeyaratnam (or Chee Soon Juan or Tang Liang Hong or Francis Seow or Chia Thye Poh), getting any government permit will be kind of… tough. Keeping your job will be kind of… tough. Getting a job will be kind of… tough. Getting people to acknowledge your existence will be kind of… tough.

It’s a done deal. Singapore will get a casino. The sky will not fall. Singaporeans go on gambling cruises to nowhere and Genting Highlands casinos, anyway — why not keep the money at home so we can all enjoy even more insanely fugly Christmas lights along Orchard Road?!

• 1 Apr 2005