Child abuse case puts banned Malaysian cult back in spotlight

On its website, Global Ikhwan Services and Business Holdings (GISB) describes itself as a Malaysian conglomerate with a vision to implement the Islamic way of life in accordance with the teachings of the Prophet Muhammad.

But the rescue this week of hundreds of children and young people who Malaysian authorities say were sexually abused at charities allegedly run by GISB has put the spotlight back on the company’s roots in a religious sect banned by the government three decades ago.

GISB acknowledges ties to the religious sect Al-Arqam, which was banned in 1994, and names the sect’s late preacher Ashaari Muhammad as its founder. However, GISB has sought to distance itself from the group’s practices and beliefs, which the government considers heretical.

GISB has said it does not operate the homes and has denied allegations of abuse. However, in a video posted to Facebook, the CEO said the company had broken unspecified laws and that there had been “one or two” cases of sodomy at the youth homes.

In 2011, GISB made headlines for its controversial positions on sex and marriage, including encouraging polygamous families and founding the Obedient Wives’ Club, a group that called on women to submit to their husbands “like prostitutes.”

The police raids on charities in two Malaysian states this week came after several Muslim leaders called on the government to investigate the activities of GISB.

Abu Hafiz Salleh Hudin, a lecturer in Islam at the International Islamic University Malaysia, said he was aware of reports filed with the Malaysian Department of Islamic Development (Jakim) as far back as a decade ago about worker exploitation and deviant teachings at GISB.

“They stressed that they were being exploited and that they were not being paid for their work,” he told Reuters, citing reports from former GISB members.

The former members also adhered to the teachings and beliefs of Al-Arqam, Abu Hafiz added.

Police say they are investigating other allegations, including money laundering. Authorities say they also plan to investigate religious schools run by GISB, while Jakim said they would submit a report to the cabinet on deviant teachings related to the company.

According to police, most of the youths rescued from homes in two Malaysian states were children of GISB members.

Many of them showed signs of abuse, neglect and emotional trauma, while 13 people had been sodomized, officials said Friday.

Residents of Bukit Beruntung, a town where authorities had searched several youth homes, according to a police source and local residents, were shocked by the allegations of abuse.

“If that is true, then it is really worrying,” said Mohd Khair Syafie, the imam of a surau, an Islamic prayer hall, in the town, about 50 kilometres outside the capital.

Ashaari Muhammad founded the Al-Arqam movement in 1968, which initially focused on discussing religious issues.

In the 1980s, the group, which had tens of thousands of followers, was condemned by Malaysia’s religious authorities for what they saw as deviant teachings from Ashaari. His followers claimed he had supernatural powers and could delay death.

Ashaari, who had five wives and 37 children, spent two years in prison in the 1990s and died in 2010.

In 2006, the Malaysian government banned Rufaqa Corp, another company founded by Ashaari, describing it as an attempt to revive Al-Arqam. A Rufaqa official at the time denied that it had any agenda other than preaching Islam and building its business.

In an interview with business daily The Malaysian Reserve in August, GISB said the company had been renamed Rufaqa Corp. It also stressed that it was a commercial entity that adhered to Islamic rules.

Munira Mustaffa, director of security consultancy Chasseur Group, said GISB’s activities appeared to help the company “hide under a veil of legitimacy.”

“GISB lives in a country where they know they are being watched, so they do everything they can to present themselves as enterprising individuals and legitimate business people,” Munira said.

“But at the same time they follow the same pattern as other isolationist communities or sects.”