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Samsters got field reports?
Hannah Martens
Photos via Shin Min Daily News
A restaurant owner at Sultan Plaza complained that the building is filling up with suspected brothels and massage parlours, with almost 30 stores opening in four months.
Speaking to Shin Min Daily News, Chen (transliteration) shared that the massage parlours began moving in in 2025, with about 10 stores opening.
However, he noted that more have opened in 2026, which has caused him great distress.
He told the Chinese newspaper that he was unhappy with the "scantily clad masseuses" who would solicit customers directly in the corridor in broad daylight, asking passersby if they needed a massage.
Chen shared that when he was unloading goods during the morning of May. 3, he spotted a masseuse wrapped in a bath towel sitting on a safe at the entrance of a massage parlour, allegedly waiting for customers.
He added that he was unloading his items for about 30 minutes, and the masseuse just sat there the whole time, where everyone could see her.
He took a picture of the masseuse and sent it to the building management.
In a video he showed Shin Min Daily News, the woman in the bath towel was sitting on the couch playing with her phone. When she noticed someone was filming her, she got up and walked into the store.
Chen shared that the owner of the massage parlour apologised to the management and apparently sent the masseuse back to her country.
Chen said that the masseuses would sit outside the parlours as early as 9am.
"It's so brazen to openly solicit customers," he said.
Chen also shared that he saw a 40 per cent drop in business when some of these establishments opened next to and across from his restaurant.
He shared that during Chinese New Year, he would receive about 20 orders for reunion dinners, but this year, he had only one.
This resulted in a loss of more than S$18,000.
When asked by the Chinese newspaper about the massage parlour, other business owners said they were used to it and not affected by it.
When a Shin Min Daily News reporter visited the building, they noted that the fifth and sixth floors were nightclubs, while the seventh and eighth floors were offices.
On the first through fourth floors, several women were standing along the corridors soliciting customers.
There were many dimly lit massage parlours, with masseuses enthusiastically asking customers if they needed a massage.
According to some of the parlours' online advertisements, the massage parlours posted pictures of women dressed scantily and openly promoted sexual services.
S'pore restaurant owner claims 30 massage parlours & alleged brothels open in Sultan Plaza in 4 months: Shin Min
Affected his business.Hannah Martens
May 16, 2026, 06:08 PM
Photos via Shin Min Daily News
A restaurant owner at Sultan Plaza complained that the building is filling up with suspected brothels and massage parlours, with almost 30 stores opening in four months.Speaking to Shin Min Daily News, Chen (transliteration) shared that the massage parlours began moving in in 2025, with about 10 stores opening.
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However, he noted that more have opened in 2026, which has caused him great distress.
He told the Chinese newspaper that he was unhappy with the "scantily clad masseuses" who would solicit customers directly in the corridor in broad daylight, asking passersby if they needed a massage.
Just a bath towel
Chen shared that when he was unloading goods during the morning of May. 3, he spotted a masseuse wrapped in a bath towel sitting on a safe at the entrance of a massage parlour, allegedly waiting for customers.
He added that he was unloading his items for about 30 minutes, and the masseuse just sat there the whole time, where everyone could see her.
He took a picture of the masseuse and sent it to the building management.
In a video he showed Shin Min Daily News, the woman in the bath towel was sitting on the couch playing with her phone. When she noticed someone was filming her, she got up and walked into the store.
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Chen shared that the owner of the massage parlour apologised to the management and apparently sent the masseuse back to her country.
Drop in business
Chen said that the masseuses would sit outside the parlours as early as 9am.
"It's so brazen to openly solicit customers," he said.
Chen also shared that he saw a 40 per cent drop in business when some of these establishments opened next to and across from his restaurant.
He shared that during Chinese New Year, he would receive about 20 orders for reunion dinners, but this year, he had only one.
ADVERTISEMENT
This resulted in a loss of more than S$18,000.
When asked by the Chinese newspaper about the massage parlour, other business owners said they were used to it and not affected by it.
When a Shin Min Daily News reporter visited the building, they noted that the fifth and sixth floors were nightclubs, while the seventh and eighth floors were offices.
On the first through fourth floors, several women were standing along the corridors soliciting customers.
There were many dimly lit massage parlours, with masseuses enthusiastically asking customers if they needed a massage.
According to some of the parlours' online advertisements, the massage parlours posted pictures of women dressed scantily and openly promoted sexual services.
