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<TABLE border=0 cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%"><TBODY><TR><TD class=wintiny noWrap align=right>19695.1 </TD></TR><TR><TD height=8></TD></TR><TR><TD class=msgtxt><TABLE border=0 cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%"><TBODY><TR><TD>Massage joints giving other tenants headaches
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Catfights among the normally nocturnal staff of Orchard Tower's massage parlours are breaking out even in daytime. -- ST PHOTO: DESMOND LIM
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<!-- START OF : div id="storytext"--><!-- more than 4 paragraphs -->Catfights involving massage parlour employees have made other Orchard Towers tenants see red.
The building has always been known for its nightlife after dark, with fights over women erupting now and then.
But tenants and others in the building - a mix of shops, offices and apartments - say daytime commotions have been erupting since the arrival of massage parlours about two years ago.
Ms Susan Chia, 45, who runs an electronics store, said her business has been affected. She was so irked by a fight between two massage parlour employees that she contacted The Sunday Times.
'The women from the massage parlours openly stand at the door and solicit business - and they fight as well,' she reported.
'Such things used to happen at night after we closed. Now, it happens in the afternoon as well.'
Orchard Towers security officer Ng Tang Meng said that fights often start after 3pm, and can be difficult to contain.
When The Sunday Times visited Orchard Towers on a recent weekday, massage parlour employees were seen at doorways soliciting business from male customers.
On the third floor alone, there are about six massage parlours among regular businesses like electronics stores and hair salons.
Mr Steven Goh, the building manager, insisted that the fights were of a personal nature and did not happen often.
He added: 'The management has done its part, and we have ample security.
'We are also upgrading the building. Last year and early this year, we improved the lighting and changed the ceiling boards. The toilets are next.'
He said the management actively controls the number of massage parlours, though he declined to say what the quota was.
A police spokesman said there was neither any indication that crime was on the rise in the area, nor had there been an increase in the number of fight-related cases. Police would continue to work with various stakeholders to keep a tight rein on the crime situation, he added.
But some workers at Orchard Towers are still unhappy.
An employee at JJ Thai Massage, who wanted to be known only as Sharon, 32, said she witnessed a fight between two massage parlour staff a few weeks ago.
'They were screaming loudly at each other in Mandarin and even pulled each other's hair. There was hair on the floor, and the police had to intervene. It's bad for business because it scares away our customers,' she said.
A hair salon owner, who wanted to be known only as Ms Lee, 40, said: 'My business has gone down. People used to come here to get their hair done, but it's hard for them to come in now without massage parlour girls harassing them.'
Mr Bala Muthu, 53, who works in a tailor shop, said pickings have gone down by 30 per cent to 40 per cent.
'It used to be quite decent here during the day. But now, families with children may not want to come any more since the massage parlours moved in,' he said.
However, others feel that such businesses come with the territory.
'Orchard Towers has always been like this. What do you expect?' said a shopkeeper, who wanted to be known only as Mr Teo. His family owns L&T Mobile, a mobile phone store.
Still, some regulars can see why this is problematic.
University student Samuel Andri, 22, has been going to Orchard Towers regularly for three years to attend church services on the seventh floor.
'I can see why people are uncomfortable coming here. I just go straight to my church,' he said.
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