KLCC pixmen deny fleecing tourists, saying they are not gangsters or conmen

New Straits Times

a day ago

KUALA LUMPUR: Braving the scorching 33°C heat, four men gathered outside the Petronas Twin Towers today to tell their side of the story after a recent operation against them and their "street photographer" friends.
Following public complaints and videos of alleged "KLCC photographer gangsters and scammers" going viral, Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) yesterday conducted a joint operation dubbed OP Lens with the police and other government departments.
Just last night, nearly 30 of them were slapped with RM2,000 fines each for offering their "services" without a permit.
But four of them today claimed that they neither accosted visitors and passers-by, nor did they overcharge for their services.
"We are not criminals. We're just trying to make a living, why fine us?
"We are not causing any trouble to anyone. It's very simple, we approach tourists who want to take pictures with KLCC in the background.
"We tell them the price beforehand and if they agree, then only we proceed. Otherwise we go on to the next customer, " said Hussein Siri, 43, in defence of his friends and himself.
The father of six from Sabah said he had been taking pictures at KLCC since 2019 and last night was not the first time that he got into trouble with the authorities.
"Times are hard and yet this happens. People think we make a lot of money, but that's not true. We earn just to break even. Even this Iphone 16, which I bought under installment, the camera stand, power banks and extras, all cost money," he said.
He claimed that the gadgets he held were worth about RM8,000.
Contrary to claims that tourists were overcharged – some allegedly quoting as high as RM30 per photo – N. Parameswaran, 48, insisted that such allegations were not true.
"Our rates are all standardised and reasonable. RM5 for locals and RM10 for tourists – not RM30 or anything more. RM10 is for one photo. If they want all the pictures, then of course the price changes, but we always explain and negotiate," he said while wiping sweat from his brow as the midday sun beat down.
Speaking about last night's operation, Parameswaran said he did not understand why the photographers were fined when a video of one altercation that went viral, which according to him, occurred between two tourists who wanted to take photos at the same time.
"It had nothing to do with any of us, yet just because the video went viral, the authorities came after us. We do a good job taking good photos of the visitors and that is why some choose to hire us, but that's what many people don't understand," he said, adding that they had a few trade secrets for camera settings to make their shots nicer.
Another photographer, Mustafa Ali, 30, also from Sabah, said he was plying his trade for survival.
"On good days, I make RM100 to RM150. On bad days, just RM50 or even less. That's barely enough for food and bills," he said, condemning the operation against his colleagues and friends.
Mustafa said he migrated here after losing his job in Sabah during the pandemic.
Muhd Fauzi Omar, 26, a father of three, said most customers initially wanted one or two photos only, but sometimes, after seeing all the shots, they wanted more.
"We normally take 10 to 12 pictures so they can choose. If they want it all, then of course it's not RM10 anymore. But even then, we negotiate, make it fair. No forcing. We're not scammers.
"A real scammer would have disappeared. But we stay because we know we are not doing wrong," he said.
Fauzi said the recent viral video showing an altercation had nothing to do with them.
"It was two tourists arguing among themselves. But some content creators twisted it for likes and shares. Because of that, we got blamed. Suddenly, we're all criminals," he said.