Viral ‘Pasar Ikhwan di Putrajaya’ among four GISBH-linked companies shut down in federal administrative capital

PUTRAJAYA, Sept 22 — A supermarket and three food and beverage outlets said to be owned by Global Ikhwan Services and Business Holdings Sdn Bhd (GISBH) have been closed following allegations of involvement in child trafficking and exploitation.

Three outlets on Jalan Diplomatik in Precinct 15 – Ikhwan Delights, Ikhwan Cafe and Ikhwan Bakery – and Ikhwan Mart on Jalan Kedah ceased operations four days ago. Harian News reported today.

“As a youngster, I did not know that the businesses under GISB were offshoots of the Al-Arqam sect, which was banned by the government in the past, until the news became widespread,” said a sales assistant working near the three F&B outlets, Mohd Faris Haziq Mohd Fauzi, as quoted by the Malay daily.

According to the 20-year-old, all four Ikhwan stores in the area closed simultaneously after news about GISBH circulated on social media.

The Ikhwan Mart recently went viral after it was the subject of a GISBH song that was subsequently parodied by the Facebook page calling itself Pusat Kajian Ajaran Sesat (Pukas), or the Malaysian Centre for the Study of Heresy.

The parodies have attracted the attention of authorities, with the Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) saying it is actively monitoring social media content featuring GISBH.

Among them was an unusual video featuring a group of topless African male dancers singing the jingle.

The newspaper today quoted another 20-year-old Addin Hilmi Halim, who used to go to Ikhwan Cafe, as saying that the eatery was rarely closed and that there were many customers, especially during working hours.

The university student said Harian News that many of the employees were young, but unfriendly and difficult to deal with.

“Since the café closed, the staff has not been seen either. Perhaps they were ordered to move by their superiors,” he was quoted as saying.

GISBH, known for its Islamic business practices, saw many of its branches in Peninsular Malaysia closed due to a police crackdown after September 11.

The company, which operates numerous supermarkets, bakeries, pharmacies, restaurants and slaughterhouses at home and abroad, has come under the spotlight after police revealed incidents of sexual abuse involving more than 400 minors at charities run by its partners following raids in Selangor and Negeri Sembilan.

GISBH has been linked to the Islamic sect Al Arqam, which was banned in the 1980s.

Earlier media reports stated that several GISBH branches in Perlis, Kelantan and Terengganu had also been closed due to the problems faced by the company.

According to its website, GISB operates a network of restaurants and supermarkets domestically and internationally, including in Mecca and Australia.