KDN Targets Foreign Beggar Syndicates in KL

KUALA LUMPUR, July 3 — Begging activities involving foreigners, particularly children, may point to organized crime and are believed to be directly linked to syndicates, according to the Ministry of Home Affairs (KDN).

The ministry reported that from 2025 until May 31 this year, the Immigration Department executed 836 enforcement operations throughout Kuala Lumpur and surrounding areas, inspecting 10,609 individuals. Out of these, 5,411 foreigners were detained for various immigration offences, with 42 of them specifically caught for begging.

“Investigations are also being conducted against locals suspected of acting as protectors, organisers, or financial beneficiaries of these activities. The ministry will not compromise on any breach of the law or any form of exploitation that could affect the country’s image and reputation,” KDN stated in a written reply published on the Parliament portal.

The ministry was responding to a question from Fong Kui Lun (PH-Bukit Bintang), who inquired about the effectiveness of enforcement sweeps targeting foreign beggars, including children, in tourist landmarks such as Bukit Bintang, Jalan Alor, and Changkat Bukit Bintang, as well as strategies to dismantle the syndicates exploiting them.

To optimize enforcement, KDN noted that the Immigration Department has stepped up integrated operations alongside the Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM) and Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL), while refining intelligence sharing to track syndicate networks, operational methods, and begging hotspots.

Furthermore, the Kuala Lumpur Immigration Department plays an active role in the Federal Territory Security Working Committee Meetings and the dedicated KL Strike Force team, collaborating with PDRM, DBKL, the Department of Social Welfare (JKM), and other regulatory bodies. Through the KL Strike Force, these agencies actively monitor vagrancy hotspots, execute unscheduled integrated raids, share public complaints rapidly, and conduct continuous surveillance to avoid a recurrence.

“KDN emphasises that an integrated approach with PDRM, DBKL, and related agencies will continue to be empowered to combat foreign beggar syndicates firmly, comprehensively, and continuously to preserve public safety and the nation’s image,” the ministry added.

In a separate matter, KDN revealed that 314 employers were recommended for foreign worker quotas out of the 1,919 applications received during the special application window that ran from January 19 to March 31 this year.

The ministry explained that this special period was specifically introduced to assist employers who had missed the initial December 31, 2025 deadline to secure their foreign worker allocations under the 2025 quota ceiling.

“Subsequently, the employers who obtained the recommendations are currently awaiting deliberation by the Department of Labour Peninsular Malaysia (JTKSM) to obtain initial approval to employ foreign workers under Section 60(K) of the Employment Act 1955 (Act 265),” the ministry noted.

This response was in light of a question from Datuk Ngeh Koo Ham (PH-Beruas), who requested data on the total approved quota for employing foreign workers during the special window between January 19 and March 31 this year.

-NMT