Malaysians need to know the TRUTH: Don’t know it yet

Mohd Na’im Mokhtar said today that he has not yet been informed of the proposed decision to set up a Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) into Global Ikhwan Service and Business Holding (GISBH).

The allegations include child abuse, sexual harassment and exploitation in care homes run by the group.

“I don’t know yet. The issue (RCI) is not yet known,” said the minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Religious Affairs) when asked if he supported Suhakam’s proposal and would submit it to the cabinet tomorrow.

He said this when he was received by reporters in Kuala Lumpur today after a meeting organised by the Islamic Religious Council of the Federal Territories.

Na’im did not elaborate on his comments, and Malaysian kini has contacted his officer for clarification.

On September 13, Dr Farah Nini Dusuki, Suhakam Children’s Commissioner, proposed the immediate establishment of the RCI.

Farah is also said to have asked the National Security Council (NSC) to set up a special committee to develop a comprehensive strategy to prevent abuse, child maltreatment and exploitation in all children’s institutions, including charities.

Suhakam’s proposal received the full support of Minister Azalina Othman Said of the Prime Minister’s Department (Legal and Institutional Reform) and the Bar Association.

On September 11, police rescued 402 children during raids on 20 GISBH nursing homes in Selangor and Negeri Sembilan, and arrested 171 people.

Since then, the number of arrests has risen to more than 300 people, including top management of GISBH, and a total of 572 victims have been rescued.

Seven of those arrested were brought to trial on 29 charges. – Mkini