Chinatown Karaoke Dispute Escalates, Frustrating Businesses and Prompting Ministerial Appeal
A persistent noise complaint involving a group of elderly karaoke singers in Chinatown has stretched over two years, escalating to a direct appeal to Minister for Digital Development and Information Josephine Teo as local businesses report worsening disruptions.
For years, a group of senior citizens has been gathering at Exit C of the Chinatown MRT station, leading to Pagoda Street, to perform karaoke using a portable speaker and projector. While intended as a leisure activity, the performances have consistently drawn complaints from nearby businesses and diners due to the volume and perceived lack of quality.
The issue first surfaced in August 2023, with one resident, identified as “Stomper Anonymous,” telling local news outlet Stomp that the group frequently performed past 10 p.m. “Their singing is consistently poor, and the volume is very disruptive,” the resident stated. “Additionally, they frequently block the walkway, causing inconvenience to pedestrians.” The Shin Min Daily News also reported on the situation at the time.
By December 2023, the situation had reportedly deteriorated. A shop employee, identified as “JD,” described the impact on businesses, stating, “It is a pain for our sales and retail colleagues, even within the shops – the noise level and the awful singing.” JD recounted attempts by business owners and employees to address the issue amicably, but to no avail.
JD shared video footage from a July 2023 confrontation where he requested to see the group’s entertainment license. The video, which concluded with the arrival of police, resulted in the incident being classified as a dispute. Photos of the license revealed it authorized performances every Monday from May 19, 2023, to August 28, 2023, between 5 p.m. and 10 p.m., under the title “Senior Citizen Leisure Hours.”
Frustrated with the perceived inadequacy of the response, JD filed a complaint with the Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA), arguing that the performances did not qualify as “arts or public entertainment.” He further asserted that the group’s leader was “very much an aggressor himself,” and included the confrontation video as evidence.
IMDA responded, stating they had “taken note of [the] feedback” and would “review [the] concern and will take the necessary action(s) where applicable.”
However, as of December 8, 2025, the situation remained unresolved. JD escalated the complaint directly to Minister Teo, referencing a recent news report and highlighting that concerns expressed in 2023 had not only persisted but worsened. “I was surrounded by this crowd in 2023 after making a police complaint and I tried to get on with life…” JD wrote, adding, “IMDA, in my opinion, did not even bother to take a closer look then. Are you going to do the same?”
The following day, JD received a reply acknowledging his email and stating that the concerns were “currently looking into” and that an update would be provided.
The ongoing dispute underscores the challenges of balancing public enjoyment with the needs of local businesses and residents, and raises questions about the effectiveness of regulatory oversight in addressing persistent community concerns.
