KUALA LUMPUR: "Most amateur photographers taking pictures here are not foreign nationals; they are locals looking to earn an income."
So says an amateur photographer who wished to be known as Hassan.
The 27-year-old said that they are aware of public complaints regarding the presence of amateur photographers around the Petronas Twin Towers (KLCC).
He added that there were also complaints about discomfort experienced by visitors, as well as allegations that photographers were taking pictures while obstructing traffic.
"I heard these complaints from the authorities during their inspections in the area.
"Some say foreigners force visitors to take pictures, but in my experience, many amateur photographers here are locals from Sabah," he said.
He said that misunderstandings about their backgrounds may be due to their use of different languages when communicating with each other.
"I'm from Semporna, Sabah, and I have been photographing here for two years. When I talk to my friends, I use Bajau because they are also Bajau.
"Although we often speak Malay, our strong Sabah accents might lead people to think we are from Indonesia," he added.
Another amateur photographer who wished to be known as Rashid, 30, said that they have never violated any regulations, including traffic laws.
"We only take pictures around the tower using our phone cameras with a 0.5 lens and never venture onto the road.
"If any of us do step onto the road, it's typically when the traffic lights are red (when vehicles stop)," he said.
Rashid, who is also from Semporna, Sabah, expressed disappointment over the misunderstandings surrounding their presence at the tower.
"We are simply trying to earn money by taking pictures of visitors. Our prices are cheap — RM5 for a single photo — and we never pressure anyone to use our services.
"After three years of taking pictures here, I never thought this would lead to us being taken to the police station for questioning.
"A few weeks ago, all of us (amateur photographers) were summoned to the police station for questioning, including urine tests.
"The authorities explained that the inspection was prompted by complaints about us allegedly disturbing visitors," he said.
Mohammad Rajis Nordin, 34, another amateur photographer, said that the area's appeal is due to the influx of visitors.
"There are many people coming here from China, Indonesia, the Philippines, and others, which attracts numerous amateur photographers hoping to earn a living.
"We usually approach visitors to offer our photography services around the bus station or the underground exit from Suria KLCC.
"The KLCC security has informed us where we can stand to attract 'clients'. We have never entered prohibited areas," he said.
He added that they themselves are unaware why the presence of amateur photographers around the twin towers has recently become a 'focus' for the public.
"We are just here to earn a living without bothering anyone. We make offers, and if they decline, we don't force them.
"Regarding the complaints made to the authorities, we do not break the rules and do not argue among ourselves because we understand that everyone wants to 'earn a living'," he said.
A survey by Harian Metro around the twin towers found that there were an estimated ten amateur photographers gathered at the bus station and the exit from Suria KLCC.
Some of them were seen approaching visitors and offering photography services for as low as RM5 for a single picture or RM10 for a package of three pictures.
It was reported that they take numerous photos of visitors before asking them to choose their favourites and pay according to the number selected.