casino to generate big money in tourism?

ok ok no more post on baby jesus or christmas (but it is still christmas today ok!) but back to my normal social commentary/current issues posts. yesirre, the reason i started this blog is for that reason… though of course now i do make personal posts once in a while but i try not to make my blog a personal blog… i mean a fully personal blog, like many blogs out there.

ok what better stuff to talk about then on penang itself – my hometown.

can you believe it or not? there is a proposal of opening a casino at pulau jerejak (an island located at the southern eastern tip of the mainland – picture left, taken from virtual tourist)… and for what? to attract tourists! the idea came from former penang’s chief minister, lim chong eu. he said it would be more profitable to run a casino than to spend money on tourism. then pulau jerejak’s assemblyman, wong mun how, had to take it up and consider opening a casino there “to boost tourism”.

huh? one said spend money to open a casino, don’t spend money on tourism. the other said open a casino to boost tourism – isnt’ that the same as spending money on tourism? and the way they want to spend it is to open a casino!

wait! there’s more. wong continue to say:
“We can have ways to control the operations, like by not making it really free for everyone. Perhaps, we can restrict it only to foreigners.”

however, he was quick to add that they are not encouraging gambling but just like to turn pulau jerejak into a tourist attraction.

hello mr pulau jerejak assemblyman, there are other ways to turn pulau jerejak into a tourist attraction than having a casino there. first of all, tourists do not come to penang to gamble, mind you. they rather prefer the natural charm, culture, heritage of penang.

now, many people, penangites especially, would have known what pulau jerejak was once famous for – military fort, a prison and a leper colongy (hospital). the prison and hospital had long time ceased to operate. nevertheless they were there once, and although no more in operation, they should be left intact as they are part of the history and heritage of pulau jerejak. now, wouldn’t this attract tourists more – the history of pulau jerejak, something unique to only pulau jerejak, penang, and not a casino, where you can find in many countries? sadly, most of these historical places had been demolished, if you follow the pictoral essay of one forest ang, you will be able to see for yourself.

now, when you go to pulau jerejak, yes you’ll be greeted with the ruins of the prison and the hospital AND a sprawling luxury modern resort and spa.

well, i guess it is a known fact that the government more often than not do not bother about history and heritage. in the name of development, they are more concern with setting up of high-rise modern hotels/resorts, departmental stores… AND casinos, and all that sorts. they’ll never learn that it is our history, heritage and culture that attracts tourists. if only the military fort, penal clony and leper clony in pulau jerejak are preserved and pulau jerejak promoted as a historical island, i’m sure pulau jerejak would attract more tourists than the sound of “bingo!”, “jackpot!”, “royal flush!”.