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| SDP Singapore |
Speaking to reporters after the official opening of the Clementi Public Library at The Clementi Mall, he said he strongly disagreed with the call from Singapore Democratic Party's new candidate, Mr Tan Jee Say, 57, a former MTI official.
Mr Lim defended the government's decision to go ahead with the Integrated Resorts, saying they create many synergies and linkages for other industries to grow.
Mr Tan, who was unveiled by the SDP on Friday, had said Singapore should restructure its economy to rely less on manufacturing and shift to becoming a services hub. This would lessen the country's dependence on cheap foreign labour and also reduce economic volatility, since the fortunes of many manufacturing sectors rise and fall with the global economy.
Minister Lim also took issue with Mr Tan's criticism that the casino and gaming sector was the 'wrong type of services to go into', compared to sectors such as education and healthcare.
He cautioned against exaggerating the impact of the IRs , saying that it is but a small component of overall GDP and the government is closely monitoring the social effects.
Mr Lim urged Singaporeans not to get 'over emotional', saying that Mr Tan's suggestion that the two IRs here are promoting prostitution and drugs was 'going too far'.
