She said site inspections with management and security authorities revealed these locations as high-risk for such activities.

“The main concern is safety. These locations are simply not safe for taking photos, so we cannot consider issuing licences. It’s not just about the welfare of photo touts or tourism.

“At the KLCC junction, for instance, a car could hit someone at any time. It’s a safety issue,” she said after attending the Putrajaya International Language Initiative for Youth and Special Community Mobility Assistance programme today.

Yeoh said two inspections were conducted in the KLCC area with Kuala Lumpur mayor Fadlun Mak Ujud, 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 set up, broadcasting every 10 minutes to remind tourists not to use the services of photo touts.

Yeoh said checks on detained photo touts 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.