CHARLES HECTOR: 9/11 GISBH – What is happening? Are the actions in accordance with law? PAS raises concern about unfair targetting of business premises?

A
total of 19 individuals, including the chief executive officer of
Global Ikhwan Services and Business Holding (GISBH) and his wife, were
brought to the Shah Alam Magistrates’ Court to seek a seven-day remand
order, starting September 18, 2024. — Bernama pic

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 23 — On September 11, the nation was rocked by reports of sexual and physical abuse of children at welfare homes linked to the Global Ikhwan Services and Business Holdings Sdn Bhd (GISBH),
following mass raids and the arrest of 171 individuals, including
caretakers and religious teachers, in Selangor and Negeri Sembilan.

GISBH is currently at the centre of a multi-agency investigation for a slew of criminal activities, including: child sexual exploitation, human trafficking, and promoting Islamic deviancy.

Who have been charged?

The list so far includes:

• September 12:
  A 19-year-old girl with four charges of physical abuse against four
  children girls between the ages of five and six at a childcare centre at
  Seremban Sessions Court, Negeri Sembilan.
• September 18:
  Businessman Mohamad Riza Makar was charged with making criminal threats
  against a woman last on September 9, at Putrajaya Magistrate’s Court.
• September 19:
  Three teaching assistants from an Islamic school in Kuala Pilah were
  charged at the Seremban Sessions Court, Negeri Sembilan. Muhammad Habib
  Noh Mohd Zairi, 21, Muhammad Khunais Fathie Khabil, 20, and Ahmad
  Nadzful Izham Azizan, 22, faced 14 charges of sexually abusing five
  children in 2022 and 2023.
• September 20: A
  20-year-old teaching assistant at an Islamic school in Kuala Pilah,
  Negeri Sembilan faced six charges of sexually abusing four boys last
  year under Section 14 of the Sexual Offences Against Children Act 2017
  at Seremban Sessions Court, Negeri Sembilan.

All of the accused claimed trial.

On
September 17, Razarudin confirmed that 96 bank accounts belonging to
GISBH worth more than RM581,000 have been frozen, and four accounts
closed.

Some of the 29 individuals linked to GISBH who were remanded on September 22, 2024. — Bernama pic

What did the rescued children go through?

The
392 victims rescued have completed the health screening, and physical
and emotional criminal elements have been detected. Here’s what we know
about them:

• Preliminary investigations found that the
  children who resided there were not only allegedly sodomised by the
  caretakers, but also taught to perform similar acts on the other
  children at the home.
• The children were subjected to abuse as they would be punished with heated metal objects when they made mistakes.
• The children who resided there were not orphans, their parents left them in the care of the homes.

In
response, GISBH chief coordination officer Adib Attamimi denied
allegations that he and other company officials coached children at
welfare homes linked to the business to perform sodomy.

However,
the abuse was confirmed by Global Ikhwan’s executive chairman and chief
executive himself, as he admitted that a few cases of sodomy occurred at
its welfare homes in a video.

Were there evidences of Al-Arqam teachings?

The
controversy is not merely centred around sexual and physical abuse
taking place in the homes but its links to the religiously deviant
Al-Arqam group which was banned by the national fatwa council in 1994.

Recent
discoveries have proved that the teachings are still alive as books and
pamphlets associated with the deviant group were found on the raided
premises. These included in Melaka raids on 19 premises linked to GISBH:

• 12 photographs of al-Arqam’s founder, Ashaari Muhammad
• 38
  books related to al-Arqam, which have been banned in the state,
  including ‘Aurad Muhammadiyah’ and the ‘Zikir Aurad Muhammadiyah’ table —
  a diary documenting the teachings of Al-Arqam
• 33 compact discs associated with Al-Arqam teachings and several electronic devices

In Kelantan,
authorities found dozens of books about the doctrines practised by the
organisation, buried near three homes associated with the top management
of GISBH and its CEO. The homes are believed to house approximately 30
individuals, including the leader’s second wife and more than 20
children in Kampung Panji, Kota Baru.

Some items were reportedly burned to eliminate evidence and evade seizure.

In
Penang, four premises, including two childcare centres linked to GISBH
were raided and six religious books suspected to be linked to the banned
Al-Arqam movement, outlawed by the National Fatwa Council in 1994 were
confiscated.

Kelantan
police raided three houses believed to be residences of the senior
management families of Global Ikhwan Service & Business Holdings
(GISBH) Sdn Bhd and seized various books and documents buried along the
riverbank in Kampung Panji September 21, 2024. — Bernama pic

What has Putrajaya said on this?

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim had on September 13 called for investigations to be wrapped up quickly:

“If
this is true, investigate the matter, this is very important as it has
become a big matter that is linked to abuse of the Islam religion and
childcare.”

Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Religious Affairs) Datuk Dr Mohd Na’im Mokhtar has since announced a special committee on the matter, with the National Council for Islamic Religious Affairs’ Muzakarah Committee to discuss it this week.

Former
followers will also be called to testify, while the Malaysian
Department of Islamic Development (Jakim) said the evidences seized would determine the faith status of the followers.

All
of this information collated would be presented to the National Council
of Islamic Religious Affairs to decide whether there needs to be a
fatwa to declare GISBH as a religiously deviant organisation.

Opposition party PAS, however cautioned
the government against being over-zealous in prosecuting GISBH members.
The Islamist party’s secretary-general Datuk Seri Takiyuddin Hassan
said any innocent members should not be punished.

“PAS
believes that the positive aspects of the group, including its
extensive business network, should be preserved and protected from hasty
and unfair actions that may stem from impulsive sentiment, prejudice,
business competition, or certain political agendas by those seeking to
exploit the situation.”

A
total of 19 individuals, including the chief executive officer of
Global Ikhwan Services and Business Holding (GISBH) and his wife, were
brought to the Shah Alam Magistrates’ Court to seek a seven-day remand
order, starting September 18, 2024. — Bernama pic

What have others, including the state muftis said?

On September 20, Perlis became the first state to declare
the teachings of Global Ikhwan as religiously deviant and un-Islamic in
a fatwa or religious ruling. According to Perlis Mufti Datuk Mohd Asri
Zainul Abidin:

“GISBH members venerate their leaders
and religious figures to the extent of equating them with prophets,
attributing them with the power to perform miracles, and claiming they
possess knowledge of the unseen, as though they were divine.

“Such beliefs are deviant and have strayed from Islam.”

However, Kelantan Mufti Datuk Mohamad Shukri Mohamad was more cautious on a new fatwa:

“If
this is connected to Al-Arqam, then the fatwa has already been decided.
Only if there are new elements, aspects, or facts not covered by the
previous fatwa would we consider issuing a new ruling.”

This opinion was also shared by Terengganu Mufti Datuk Dr Mohamad Sabri Harun:

“As
of now, there have been no complaints regarding the teachings of GISBH
in Terengganu. Should a complaint arise, we will await the MKI’s
decision, and only after substantial and clear evidence is provided,
will we declare the teachings of GISBH as deviant.”

On Saturday, Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah, the Sultan of Selangor, expressed disappointment and regret that religious authorities did not act earlier against welfare homes run by GISBH.

His
Royal Highness also ordered the immediate closure of all unregistered
welfare homes and Islamic schools in Selangor, operated by GISBH and its
network, suspected of involvement in any criminal activities, as a
preventive measure to safeguard children from exploitation.

“I
wish to remind all parties, especially the religious authorities, to
take the issues related to the behavior of GISBH seriously, particularly
when it involves children and the suspected heretical teachings
practiced by them.

“I do not want us to be likened to a ‘hollow
tin’, meaning merely good at talking but with no results. We must adhere
to the principle of ‘walk the talk’ or putting our words into action.”

Following this, the Selangor Islamic Religious Department (Jais) said it will present
a comprehensive report on the group’s activities. This includes updates
on the 30 unregistered welfare homes operated by GISBH in Selangor, and
investigations on the alleged appointment of mosque committee members
from GISBH at a mosque in Rawang.

A general view of the businesses under GISBH in Shah Alam September 15, 2024. — Picture by Yusof Mat Isa

Are GISBH products halal?

A
curious side-story to the scandal involves the way GISBH runs its
business — which included numerous supermarkets, bakeries, pharmacies,
factories, and restaurants both domestically and abroad.

Last week, religious authorities confirmed
that Global Ikhwan’s bread products did not renew its halal
certification since 2017. Authorities are investigating whether its
poultry abattoir under Ikhwan Poultry Sdn Bhd carries the halal certification after allegations that it does not.

The company will also be investigated for not paying wages to its workers following complaints.

GISBH
markets itself as a Bumiputera-Muslim-run business, holds assets
worldwide worth RM325 million and owns 415 business outlets across 20
countries in Asia, Europe, Africa and Australasia.

At least two of its businesses, a restaurant in Mecca and Singapore, have distanced themselves from the controversy.

GISBH
emerged from a series of rebrands of a supposedly religiously deviant
group, initially known as the Arqam Group. It was first renamed Rufaqa
Corp before ultimately becoming GISBH.

The action against Global
Ikhwan was prompted by 41 police reports that had been lodged against
the company from 2011 until September 7 this year.

The police also
urged individuals who believe they may have been victims of GISBH
activities to lodge police reports to build a more comprehensive case
against the group. – Malay Mail, 23/9/2024

 

In
Kelantan, authorities discovered books about Al-Arqam doctrines buried
near three homes linked to the top management and CEO of GISBH in
Kampung Panji. — Bernama pic

KUALA
LUMPUR, Sept 23 — The enigmatic business group Global Ikhwan Services
and Business Holdings Sdn Bhd (GISBH) is currently under media spotlight
for being at the centre of a multi-agency investigation for a slew of
criminal activities, including child sexual exploitation, human
trafficking, and promoting Islamic deviancy.

The group has long
been under suspicion for its link to the banned Al-Arqam movement, and
continues to face scrutiny over its controversial practices and beliefs.
Perlis became the first state to issue a fatwa, or religious ruling,
declaring GISBH as deviant.

So what happened to Al-Arqam, and how did the group including its former members evolved into GISBH? Malay Mail explores.

Items
seized during the fourth phase of Op Global, conducted by the police
and several agencies including the Department of Islamic Development
Malaysia (Jakim), could serve as supporting evidence in determining the
faith status of followers of GlSB Holdings Sdn Bhd (GISBH). — Bernama
pic

How did Al-Arqam begin?

Al-Arqam
began in 1968 at a house where initial meetings took place in Keramat,
Kuala Lumpur, which was painted white and became known as “Rumah Putih” (White House).

Within
its first two years, the group faced backlash and accusations of
spreading deviant Islamic teachings, yet it still attracted a number of
young Malays at the time.

The
group was led by Ashaari Mohammad, an ex-government religious teacher,
who would go on to establish a self-sustained village in Kampung Sungai
Penchala, Kuala Lumpur, in 1975.

The village was equipped with a
mosque, dormitories, a school, houses and shops, all operating on
Islamic principles, and the group began to publish printed materials to
spread its teachings.

Three years later, the group renamed itself
to Al-Arqam to honour the companion of Prophet Muhammad, Arqam ibn Abi
Arqam, who allowed his house in Mecca to be used as the early meeting
place for Muslims.

The group also joined forces with Islamist
group Malaysian Islamic Youth Movement (Abim), and Ashaari was even
offered the post of president — which he declined.

Police
seized several pamphlets suspected to contradict Islamic teachings and
contain superstitious beliefs during a massive raid across peninsular
Malaysia. Al-Arqam was declared deviant in 1994, and the book Aurad was
banned in 1998 by the National Fatwa Council. — Bernama pic

Why is Al-Arqam banned?

In 1986, controversy surrounded Ashaari’s book Aurad, which claimed that Prophet Muhammad and the four caliphs could be met physically and consciously in the real world.

Al-Argam
also operated unregistered primary and secondary schools that followed a
different syllabus from the national curriculum, with a focus on
religious education.

Ashaari also implied he was a direct
descendant of the Prophet Muhammad and asked his followers to address
him as Syeikh Abuya Iman Ashaari Muhammad At-Tamini — or just “Abuya” in
short.

It was also reported that he made assertions that he had met with the Prophet.

The movement was declared deviant in 1994, and the book Aurad was banned in 1998 by the National Fatwa Council.

In September 1994, Ashaari was detained for two years under the Internal Security Act 1960 and died in 2010.

A
general view of the business operations under Global Ikhwan Service
& Business (GISB) Holding Sdn Bhd at Subang Impian in Shah Alam
September 15, 2024. — Picture by Yusof Mat Isa

How is GISBH related to Al-Arqam?

After Ashaari established his village in 1975, the group built a chain of business activities locally and abroad.

Arqam
Group was initially founded on Islamic business principles, focusing on
the halal economy and establishing factories and grocery shops.

The company was later rebranded as Rufaqa Corp and eventually renamed Global Ikhwan Group before Ashaari’s death.

GISBH
markets itself as a Bumiputera-Muslim-run business, with assets worth
RM325 million and an annual revenue of RM187 million and owns business
outlets across 20 countries across the globe, news site The Malaysian Reserve reported last month.

It runs numerous supermarkets, bakeries, pharmacies, factories, and restaurants both nationwide and worldwide.

The
company also operates restaurants in major cities such as London, Paris
and Dubai, as well as accommodations in Turkiye, a hotel in Sarajevo,
Bosnia-Herzegovina, and a 120-acre estate in Perth, Australia.

GISBH now has a total of 5,346 employees under its 25 subsidiaries, according to The Malaysian Reserve.

In
a statement on September 12, the company said it has moved away from
its past association with the Al-Arqam group and positioned itself as a
multinational business.

The
recent raids on premises linked to Global Ikhwan Service and Business
Holdings Sdn Bhd (GISBH) across several states uncovered hundreds of
books and pamphlets associated with the teachings of al-Arqam. — Bernama
pic

Raids reveal continued links to Al-Arqam and alleged criminal activities

Despite its rebranding, GISBH’s ties to Al-Arqam teachings remain, as shown in recent raids in Melaka, Kelantan, and Penang.

GISBH
is at the centre of a multi-agency investigation on suspicion of
running a criminal racket involving human trafficking and sexual
exploitation of children in the name of religion.

Police started
raids on properties linked to the corporation in Selangor and Negeri
Sembilan on September 11, rescuing over 400 children, some whom
Razarudin later announced had been sodomised and taught to sexually
assault other minors.

The raids, codenamed Op Global,
have covered all of peninsular Malaysia to date and some 200 people,
including senior GISBH executives, have been arrested and their assets
frozen.

Meanwhile, in an interview with Bernama, former members of GISBH
have alleged that they were brainwashed to believe that the group
leaders were appointed by the Prophet Muhammad, Imam Mahadi and guides
from the spiritual realm.

On Saturday, Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Razarudin Husain said
that Op Global has entered its fourth phase across Peninsular Malaysia,
with raids conducted at 82 premises, resulting in the rescue of 186
victims, comprising 102 men and 84 women, while 155 suspects, consisting
of 78 men and 77 women, were arrested. – Malay Mail, 23/9/2024