Chinese church leaders discouraging casino

Chinese church leaders discouraging casino

SINGAPORE — Chinese church leaders are urging the Singapore government to scrap its plans to allow the opening of a casino as an effort to boost tourism.

“Singapore’s hard-earned international reputation as a safe, just and corruption-free country that cares for poor and vulnerable people, will be tarnished,” the National Council of Churches said in a  statement released July 22.

Singapore’s Islamic scholars expressed a similar view in a June statement. The People’s Action Party government said in March it would consider letting a casino open. A decision on the controversial matter is expected by the end of the year.