SHAH ALAM, April 6 — The government will not issue permits or special licences to individuals offering unofficial photography services, known as photo touts, at popular tourist spots in the capital due to safety concerns.
Bernama reported that Federal Territories Minister Hannah Yeoh said inspections carried out with management and security authorities identified several hotspot locations for such activities.
“The main concern is safety; these locations are simply not safe for taking photos, so we cannot consider issuing licences. It is not just about the welfare of photo touts or tourism," she said.
Yeoh added that two inspections were conducted recently in the KLCC area, along with Kuala Lumpur Mayor Datuk Seri Fadlun Mak Ujud, officers from the Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL), and security personnel.
“DBKL has installed additional CCTV cameras at the junction, and during our site visit, we observed a noticeable drop in photo tout activity. The police are also conducting joint operations with DBKL,” she said.
Public announcement systems in multiple languages have also been installed at the location, broadcasting reminders every 10 minutes to discourage tourists from engaging with photo touts' services.
Yeoh noted that checks on several detained individuals revealed that some were foreigners using false identities.
“This is not just a matter of operating without a licence. Some are using fake identities, meaning they are not citizens.
“For this reason, issuing licences cannot be considered at this time,” she said.
