By Cai Haoxiang
THE sleaze in Joo Chiat has shrivelled.
The 'hundreds' of women who used to walk the street at night
have fallen to about 40 to 50, according to the area's MP Chan Soo
Sen.
'I make it a point to look at (the situation) every week and
have a rough count,' he told reporters.
The vice problem is now confined to a 50m stretch along Joo
Chiat Road, he added, and more family-oriented and lifestyle
businesses such as food, fashion, advertising and souvenirs have
popped up in the neighbourhood in the last couple of years.
The MP was briefing reporters yesterday on the improvements made
to the heritage area, ahead of the May9 ministerial walkabout by
Law Minister K. Shanmugam.
In 2005, he said, 'hundreds' of women solicited customers along
the 1.3km stretch of Joo Chiat Road. Now, the road is quieter and
he sees 40 to 50 women on the street when he drives or walks around
the area at night.