Unusual Post-9/11 Cases: Global Ikhwan Stores Closed Without Warning in Five States Over Abuse Allegations

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 21 — The dismantling of child abuse and religious deviancy at nursing homes linked to GISB Holdings Sdn Bhd (GISBH), including allegations of sodomy that shocked the nation last week, has had some impact on the chain’s business, with some units ceasing operations.

This was evident, for example, from the fact that several businesses believed to be linked to GISBH, such as restaurants, bakeries, supermarkets and laundromats, experienced a decline in customers following the revelation.

A Bernama survey in several states yesterday found that most hospitality establishments were not open without even sending a notice or posting a notice to customers about the closure.

A regular customer of one such restaurant at Jalan Rapat Bistari 1, Taman Rapat in Ipoh, Perak, Izzuan Ishak, 42, said he used to have lunch at the restaurant almost every day, but the shop has been closed since yesterday.

Another customer, Firdaus Hashim, 37, expressed surprise that all GISBH stores in the area had closed without notice.

“I think they may be starting to feel the effects of the problems that are plaguing the company now and people are turning away from their businesses,” he told Bernama.

The situation is the same in Selangor. A survey in Section 13 of Shah Alam revealed that restaurants and supermarkets linked to GISBH have now closed. Based on information from the public, the shops are no longer open, despite being ordered to do so by the authorities three days ago.

A woman identified only as “Suri” said she often visited the company’s restaurant (branch) and that she found the store often packed with people, especially during breakfast and lunch hours.

“When the news about them came out, I was very shocked because I didn’t know it was such a big deal. When I went there, there was nothing wrong or strange. I just noticed that the men were working in the front and the women were cooking in the kitchen,” she said.

A restaurant believed to be linked to the company in Jalan Sultan Zainal Abidin, Kuala Terengganu, has also been closed since yesterday, but equipment such as chairs, tables and iron shelves are still stacked in front of the shop.

An employee of a nearby store, who asked to be called Nora, said the restaurant had been quiet since news broke that GISBH was involved in child exploitation and sex crimes (sodomy). This news has since become a hot topic among the public.

“This GISBH restaurant is normally open every day, including Friday and Saturday, from morning to evening. In Kuala Terengganu, it is really difficult to find a restaurant that is open on Friday. If it is Friday, there will be a lot of people in this GISBH restaurant,” she said.

A local resident, Mohd Nazri Ghani, 50, said the restaurant has been in business for more than 10 years and most of the employees are young men in their early teens and early 20s.

A bakery owned by Global Ikhwan Services and Business Holdings (GISBH) was closed during a Bernama photo survey at around 11.30am in Kuantan on September 20, 2024. — Bernama pic

Investigations have revealed that a restaurant in Kota Bharu, Kelantan, suspected of having links to GISBH, has also been chained and locked. The bakery and supermarket run by the company, in Gua Musang and Tumpat respectively, have also been closed.

GISBH business premises, such as a bakery, laundry and restaurant in Kuantan, Pahang, are also closed, although a Google search shows the shops were open to customers. A villa owned by the company in Beserah also looks abandoned with its entrance closed.

Pahang police chief Datuk Seri Yahaya Othman said his officers were also monitoring the (GISBH) companies carrying out activities at business locations in the state.

On September 11, police launched Op Global to rescue 402 children from 20 GISBH-run nursing homes around Selangor and Negeri Sembilan.

Health tests on 392 children and teenagers rescued by Op Global showed they were physically and emotionally abused, and exploited through child labour. Teenagers were even forced to sell goods. — Bernama