KUALA LUMPUR – Two men suffered head injuries after they were allegedly assaulted by a group of illegal photographers near the Petronas Twin Towers on Sunday night.
The incident was shared by influencer and former teacher Mohd Fadli Salleh in a Facebook post.
According to him, the altercation occurred when a group believed to be unlicensed photographers turned aggressive, sparking a confrontation with foreign tourists at the popular tourist spot.
“My friend suffered a head injury after being hit with a weapon, I’m not sure what weapon it was at KLCC.
“There were many of them, dozens. At the time, they were fighting with foreign tourists to the point of physically assaulting them,” he said.
He claimed the two injured men, who sell drinks nearby, were at the scene and attempted to defuse the situation.
However, their intervention allegedly led to them being attacked by the group.
“My friends who sell drinks happened to be there and tried to break up the fight. Suddenly, the group of illegal photographers came and attacked them together.
“Two of them suffered head injuries. One required seven stitches and the other two stitches. They were struck from behind. Even their drink containers were smashed,” he said, adding that a police report had been lodged.
Fadli also claimed that the presence of illegal photographers around KLCC has long been a source of public complaints.
“The issue of illegal photographers at KLCC has been complained about for a long time.
“This group seems untouchable, still able to operate, even threatening and assaulting people.
“This will cause tourists to view Malaysia negatively. I hope Kuala Lumpur City Hall and the police will take firmer action to eliminate this group. It damages the country’s image,” he said.
At the time of writing, police confirmation on the incident is being sought.
Over the past year, authorities have carried out multiple enforcement operations targeting illegal photography touts. In February, Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) conducted a special crackdown at tourist hotspots, including Jalan Ampang and Jalan P. Ramlee near KLCC.
A total of 14 compounds were issued under the Licensing of Hawkers (Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur) By-Laws 2016 against Malaysian photographers operating without valid permits. Authorities also confiscated equipment from six non-citizen photographers found conducting unauthorised activities.
City Hall said enforcement efforts would continue to ensure compliance with regulations and to maintain public safety in high-traffic areas.
Some tourists have claimed that there were charged nearly RM650 by a photographer after having her pictures taken near KLCC.
Under existing by-laws, offering goods or services in public spaces for profit is classified as peddling and requires a licence issued by city authorities. Those found in violation may face fines of up to RM2,000, imprisonment of up to one year, or both. – March 25, 2026