KUALA LUMPUR, July 3 — Begging activities involving foreigners, especially children, may involve organised crime and are believed to be linked to syndicates, said the Ministry of Home Affairs (KDN).

It said from 2025 until May 31 this year, the Immigration Department carried out 836 enforcement operations in Kuala Lumpur and surrounding areas, inspecting 10,609 individuals. Among them, 5,411 foreigners were detained for immigration offences, including 42 involved in 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 said in a written reply published on the Parliament portal.

The ministry was replying to a question from Fong Kui Lun (PH-Bukit Bintang), who wanted to know the effectiveness of enforcement operations against begging activities by foreigners, including those involving children in tourist hotspots such as Bukit Bintang, Jalan Alor, and Changkat Bukit Bintang, as well as measures to identify and curb syndicates exploiting the group.

The ministry said to enhance enforcement, the Immigration Department has increased integrated operations with the Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM) and Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL), and improved intelligence sharing and analysis to identify syndicate networks, modus operandi, and begging hotspots.

The KDN added that the Kuala Lumpur Immigration Department is also actively involved in the Federal Territory Security Working Committee Meeting and the KL Strike Force team alongside PDRM, DBKL, the Department of Social Welfare (JKM), and other enforcement agencies.

Through the KL Strike Force, the agencies identify and monitor begging and vagrancy hotspots, conduct regular and unscheduled integrated operations, expedite sharing of intelligence and public complaints, and continuously monitor to prevent recurrence, it said.

“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 KDN added.

Meanwhile, KDN said 314 employers were considered and recommended for foreign worker quotas out of 1,919 applications received during the special application period from Jan 19 to March 31 this year.

The ministry said the special period was introduced to assist employers unable to submit applications before the December 31, 2025 deadline to obtain foreign worker quotas 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 said.

The ministry was responding to a question from Datuk Ngeh Koo Ham (PH-Beruas), who asked about the total approved quota for employing foreign workers from Jan 19 to March 31 this year. — Bernama