State immigration director Rusdi Darus said four Chinese nationals, aged between 36 and 67, were apprehended.

They are believed to have been begging at night markets and various premises around the city.

Rusdi said the arrests were made following information from the public and three weeks of gathering intelligence on the activities of foreign nationals classified as people with disabilities, who were allegedly begging at strategic locations.

“They were apparently organised into groups and frequently moved around, likely arranged by a syndicate. There was also an attempt to flee to Ipoh, Perak, by bus from a terminal.

“It was found that they could earn up to RM10,000 a month,” he said in a statement.

Rusdi said the generosity of Malaysians made them approach the public more aggressively at night markets and other places.

“We also seized cash amounting to RM9,000 during the operations. The cases are being investigated under Sections 6(1)(c) and 15(1)(c) of the Immigration Act 1959/63 (relating to entry passes),” he said.

In a separate statement, Rusdi said 45 foreign nationals were detained during several operations in Taman Daya at 1pm yesterday.

He said police arrested 22 Bangladeshi men, 15 men and five women from Myanmar, one Indian man, one Vietnamese woman and one Indonesian woman, all aged between 19 and 44.