‘Spider-Man’ beggar with girl sparks Malaysia child exploitation probe

Malaysian authorities are investigating a case involving a man dressed as Spider-Man who allegedly brought a seven-year-old girl from Terengganu state to solicit money from tourists in Melaka.Melaka women, family and com­munity development committee chief Kalsom Noordin said the 50-year-old security guard claimed the child was his niece when he was intercepted by Melaka Welfare Department officers at a petrol kiosk in Cheng at about 6pm on Sunday.“The girl was also made to wear a Spider-Man costume and we are now verifying the man’s claims,” she said on Monday.Kalsom said the child’s welfare was the primary concern, noting that the girl had travelled a consi­derable distance with the man.“I rushed to the location after receiving a complaint about the man’s alleged exploitation of the child for begging,” she said.Kalsom stressed that such actions constitute an offence under Section 32 of the Child Act 2001, which prohibits the exploitation of children, including using them for begging, hazardous work or commercial gain.