In the recent two bids for integrated resorts in Singapore reveals a surprising angle which no main stream media has covered. If the two integrated resorts are known to be money churner, surely it will be right to reward one or both the bids to any bidders with partnership with any of Singapore’s corporation.

In the best example of Shin Corp, where Temasek took a majority stake (of which percentage we shall not argue at the moment). The reason why Thai people and the current government were not happy is due to the fact that a foreign entity be given one of Thailand’s national asset. There is always a goodwill added value in such assets which enjoy some form of oligopolistic features.

With the integrated resorts the government has shown two things. One it will reward the bid to the best party regardless of nationality. Two it is (supposedly) to be above board and will only allow the best to win. Sands won because of their expertise in MICE and Genting won because of Universal Studios. But surely a Singapore company would gain a lot by learning the ropes from either party. Shouldn’t the bidding requirement states that 30% of the shares will be given to Singaporeans or Singaporeans owned company, not unlike its neighbour NEP (New Economic Policy) policy.

Has Singaporean lost out on this deal of the century? The deal that is supposed to bring Singapore forward and to a more open society?