A TIKTOK video showing traders selling food including steamboat, corn and ice cream in front of the Petronas Twin Towers spread rapidly online, with many viewers alarmed that unlicensed trading had returned to one of Kuala Lumpur's most iconic landmarks.
The caption on the video, which asked how long the situation would be allowed to continue, drew more than 500 comments and 600 shares before the video was taken down or set to private.
Have illegal traders really started operating in the KLCC area again?
Verdict:
FALSE
The video is old footage and does not reflect the current situation at KLCC, according to a fact-check published by MyCheck.my.
Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) confirmed in a Facebook statement that the viral video is a recording from a previous period and does not represent conditions at the location today.
DBKL's confirmation was backed by a specific and verifiable detail: the viral video shows only one signboard in the area in front of the towers, while the current location has two, one indicating a dedicated bicycle lane and another prohibiting vehicles from parking in the area.
"In the viral video there is only one signboard compared to the current situation where there are two signboards in the area. Based on DBKL's closed-circuit television records, there is no trading activity as shown in the video at the location at this time," DBKL said in its statement.
A ground visit by MyCheck.my to the location confirmed the area was clear of any trading activity, with tourists and members of the public moving freely through the space and security personnel conducting patrols.
The video is no longer accessible on TikTok, having been taken down, deleted or set to private.
DBKL said it conducts ongoing monitoring and enforcement in the Bukit Bintang parliamentary area, including around KLCC, to ensure public order, cleanliness and compliance with city bylaws.
From January to May 2026, a total of 2,108 enforcement actions were taken in the Imbi area, covering 1,795 compound notices, 39 enforcement notices and 274 seizures involving various offences including structural obstructions and unlicensed trading.
DBKL added that its CCTV network around KLCC serves an active enforcement function, including monitoring for unlicensed trading activity and photo touts who affect public comfort in the area.
Sources:
https://www.dbkl.gov.my/berita-acara/pemantapan-keselamatan-awam-di-klcc
