Police in Malaysia probe alleged fake monks and nuns soliciting donations in George Town Heritage Area
Police in Penang are investigating a group of Chinese nationals suspected of posing as Buddhist monks and nuns to solicit donations from tourists in George Town’s heritage zone. One woman dressed as a nun has been detained to assist with investigations.
- A group of Chinese nationals allegedly posed as monks and nuns to collect donations from tourists, offering prayer beads in return.
- Police detained a woman dressed as a “nun” after receiving reports from local traders.
- Authorities are continuing efforts to track down other individuals linked to the suspected scam.
MALAYSIA: A group of Chinese nationals dressed in Buddhist monk and nun robes has recently been spotted in George Town’s heritage area, allegedly soliciting donations from tourists under the pretext of raising funds for temples.
According to local reports, the individuals would approach visitors and ask for donations, offering bracelets or prayer beads in return. Their daily collections were described by observers as “substantial”.
Traders Alert Police
Local traders grew suspicious after observing the group’s activities over several days. One trader, identified only as Mr Yang, said he confronted one of the individuals and asked which temple they were representing.
“They claimed to be from China but could not name any specific temple,” he said, adding that the individual quickly walked away when questioned.
Mr Yang also said he had seen a donation record book belonging to one of them, which showed a full page of entries with amounts ranging from RM50 to RM100 (approximately US$12 to US$25), leading him to believe that many tourists may have been deceived.
After gathering video evidence, several traders lodged a police report.
‘Nun’ Detained for Investigation
At around 12.30pm on 26 January, police detained a woman dressed as a nun while she was allegedly soliciting donations from a flower vendor in the Little India area. She was taken to a police station to assist with investigations.
The woman reportedly claimed that she was in Penang for tourism purposes and to undergo medical treatment. Checks on her passport found that she had entered Penang on the 14th of this month.
Police are continuing investigations and are actively searching for other individuals believed to be involved, including those dressed as monks and nuns who were seen operating in the heritage zone.
Authorities have reminded the public and tourists to remain vigilant and to verify the legitimacy of any fundraising activities before making donations.
