[MoonFace]

Adult novelties come to town - but forget the porn
- ST.

Several shops sell them, albeit 'mild' versions - you won't find anatomically-correct vibrators, as it is an offence to deal in obscene objects

By Chong Chee Kin and Suhaila Sulaiman

THERE is no way you can miss it, not with the two giant neon signs screaming 'Consexshop'.

Part the sequinned velvet curtain in the doorway, and you will have broken the barrier between the rush of day-to-day life in Bugis Village and something rarely discussed openly in Singapore - sex.

But do not go in expecting pornography from this adult-novelties shop. Owner Edwin Kong, who opened the curtain for business early last year, has ensured that nothing on his shelves will offend ordinary, conservative folk.

As titillating as the business name is, it is only a pun on the words 'concept shop', said Mr Kong, explaining that he wants to sell the concept of fun within adult relationships.

If the fact that a store like this is operating in a popular shopping area alongside snack shops and boutiques shocks you, it is time to take stock.

Singapore has at least six other businesses specialising in 'adult novelties', in Midpoint Orchard, Lucky Plaza, Far East Plaza, Peninsula Plaza and Chinatown.

They are a whole lot different from the makeshift stalls that throng the backlanes of Geylang or Little India's Desker Road, where shifty peddlers are ready to bolt at the first sign of policemen.

These new shops, most of which have sprung up since last year, promote themselves as upmarket lifestyle shops for adults.

Mr Chua B.K., 35, a partner of U4ria, which has two outlets here, tags them 'The adult healthy lifestyle shop'.

His shops, and others like them sell anything from sexy lingerie to whips and handcuffs.

There are also vibrators in many colours and sizes, though none resemble the real thing.

Mr Chua said he is aware of the fine line between adult novelties and obscenity, which is illegal here, and had sought legal advice before embarking on the business.

'Obscenity is out. When it comes to pictures, we distinguish which ones are artistic. And to be sure, we don't sell porn tapes, VCDs or Viagra or any other kind of drugs,' he said.

A police spokesman said they do not license the sale of sex toys.

Under the law, it is an offence to 'sell, distribute, exhibit, import or export an obscene object'. Those caught doing so face a maximum of three months' jail and a fine.

The spokesman added that the police would only investigate such businesses if a complaint was made.

'Much will depend on the facts of each case. We advise those who wish to engage in a business involving such items to seek legal advice,' he said.

Mr Kong, who is also a partner in House of Condoms at Lucky Plaza and Condomillion at Midpoint Orchard - both in Orchard Road - stressed that his goods were adult-novelty items, not sex toys.

Both he and Mr Chua admitted that even though their shops were 'low key' and 'mild', conservative Singaporeans could still be riled.

The recent conviction of Ong Siong Kin for selling 400 sex toys at his shop in Lucky Plaza spooked Mr Kong, but he is confident that he will not end up before the court.

Both businessmen take a tough stand when it comes to minors.

Mr Kong revealed: 'There have been many times when we've turned away kids in uniform and even when some come in street clothes, we demand proof of identification if they look young.'

Ask customers what draws them into these shops, and they turn mute.

Over the two days that The Sunday Times team spent visiting these businesses, not a single customer - mostly men, some of whom were with their wives or girlfriends - would talk to the press.

But the fact that they were inside the door suggests a high level of acceptance in adult novelties.

Out on the streets, the reactions were mixed.

Legal secretary Shafrina Noordin, 26, for one, is appalled when told that some shops display vibrators in the windows.

'Those objects might stir curiosity and people might want to give them a try - that's the natural path to pre-marital sex and maybe, promiscuity,' she said.

Mr Shannon Bridgeford, 27, operations manager of restaurant Igor's, felt the shops provided a service for couples that wanted to engage in 'healthy exploration'.

The South African who has lived in Hongkong, Britain and Australia before, said: 'That Singapore has these kind of shops is a relief actually...There's nothing wrong with that.'

Sales executive Richard Tan, 30, said he was pleasantly surprised that these businesses now existed here.

'This shows that Singapore is really opening up. Now I've got something to tell my overseas friends when they say Singapore is a prudish, conservative country,' he said.



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ON SALE: From lingerie to whips


THERE are at least seven shops in Singapore specialising in ''adult novelties'', located in Midpoint Orchard, Lucky Plaza, Far East Plaza, Peninsula Plaza, Bugis Village and Chinatown.

Marketing themselves as upmarket lifestyle shops for adults, they sell items such as whips, handcuffs and masks.

Common also are vibrators (right) in various colours and sizes, but none resemble the real thing.

There is also the usual sexy lingerie and pictures of scantily-clad men and women on the packaging of the items - but there is no nudity at all.

Shopowners stress that these are adult-novelty items, not sex toys.