SPEECH BY MR MAH BOW TAN, MINISTER FOR COMMUNICATIONS AND

1ST ADVISER TO FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION OF SINGAPORE AT THE CHEQUE PRESENTATION CEREMONY BY SINGAPORE POOLS ON 25 JULY 97 AT 11.30 AM AT THE GRAND PLAZA HOTEL, BALLROOM 2

INTRODUCTION

We are now coming to the end of 2nd season of the S-League. Compared with many other professional leagues (eg the English Premier League, the European Leagues, and closer to home the Malaysia Cup and the J-League), ours is a baby. But, the baby is alive and well. The 2nd season was in many ways better than the first. Many mistakes made in 1st year have been rectified. However, there is still a long way to go. There is a lot of enthusiasm but the level of professionalism needs to be raised in some areas. For instance, the standard of play on the field is improving, but still patchy. More noticeably, the standard of the clubs is uneven. Fan clubs, so vital to professional football, are still relatively undeveloped. The administrative infrastructure of clubs needs to be strengthened. There are problems that can be solved if we recognise them and if we have an important ingredient : Money.

Here, I must express my sincere thanks to Singapore Pools and all our major sponsors, including Tiger Beer, Pepsi, Visa, NTUC Income and all club sponsors for providing the much needed funds to launch and maintain the S-League. Today's $3 million grant from Singapore Pools is its third donation to the S-League in as many years. It represents Singapore Pools' desire and commitment to ensure that S-League succeeds.

I am confident that with continued strong financial support from Singapore Pools, corporate sponsors and all Singapore football fans, the S-League can grow from strength to strength. To succeed, it needs all the support it can get from all parties concerned; which brings me to the subject of legalised football betting.

LEGALISED FOOTBALL BETTING

The issue of legalised football betting in Singapore is not new. It was mooted as early as 1991 by Dr Hsu Tse Kwang when he was President of the Football Association of Singapore (FAS). The proposal was shelved mainly because the local league had not yet gone professional then.

This matter was raised in Parliament last year by Mr R Sinnakaruppan, MP for Kampong Glam GRC. Mr Sinnakaruppan had proposed that the Government should look into the introduction of an official football betting system. He reasoned that it was inevitable that Singaporeans would want to bet on the outcome of matches, and willy nilly, there would be illegal betting syndicates. He said that by legalising football betting, we could ensure that the proceeds could be ploughed back into the game.

STUDY BY SINGAPORE POOLS ACCEPTED BY GOVERNMENT

After professional football was introduced last year and the S-League took off, FAS commissioned a study by the Singapore Pools to look into the feasibility of introducing football pools. The study indicated that such a system is viable in Singapore. The report was presented to Government recently.

I am happy to announce that the Government has accepted the report and given the green-light for the introduction of legalised football betting in Singapore. The introduction of legalised football betting can help to achieve the following objectives :

a Provide funds to support and sustain the S-League on an on-going basis.

b Enhance the popularity of the S-League by raising the standard of football.

c Provide more funds for important youth development programmes at all levels.

d Give better support for the training of the national team and the various national age group squads for international competitions.

IMPLEMENTATION TASK FORCE

A special Task Force, chaired by me, has been formed to look into the implementation of the football betting system. The Task Force comprises representatives from the Singapore Pools, the FAS, S-League and the Singapore Sports Council. The Singapore Pools has been appointed by the Task Force to operate the football pools as it has the necessary infrastructure and expertise to do so. The Task Force hopes to be able to introduce football pools in time for the start of the 1999 S-League season.

In the introduction of football pools, the Task Force will be sensitive to the concerns of various groups regarding the impact of legalised betting. I wish to assure parents for example that football pools, like all other forms of betting e.g. 4D, Toto, horse racing, will have rules put in place to safeguard those who should not indulge in such activities, eg young children. Illegal gambling will continue to be dealt with sternly by the Police. Those who wish to engage in football betting will soon have a legal channel for them to do so, at Singapore Pools outlets where existing controls can be instituted. The Singapore Pools has a well-tested system of checks and prohibitions that is generally known and understood by the public. With its experience, Singapore Pools should be able to operate the football pools successfully and in doing so, contribute to the development of S-League and sports in general.

Conclusion

Football is one of the most, if not the most popular sport in Singapore. To all football fans, it is more than just a game. It is a rallying point, bringing people together, all races, ages and backgrounds, for a common purpose. A successful S-League is the foundation for a successful Singapore football scene, at local as well as regional and international levels. It is my fervent hope that the step we are taking today will take Singapore football to greater heights. I ask for the support of all of you who are associated with the game in one way or another to make this a reality.