Pahang becomes the third state to declare GISBH a deviant group

(Photo by Mohd RASFAN/AFP)

KUALA LUMPUR – Pahang becomes the third state after Perlis and Selangor to label the practices and beliefs of GISB Holdings Sdn Bhd (GISBH) in connection with child exploitation activities and the alleged doctrine of religious fanaticism as deviant and misleading.

The ruling was approved by the Pahang State Sharia Law Consultative Committee at a special meeting convened last Wednesday, with the Sultan of Pahang Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah agreeing to it.

Pahang Mufti Prof. Datuk Dr. Asmadi Mohamed Naim said it was based on two beliefs allegedly prevalent in the group, namely the continuation of the belief and practice in Aurad Muhammadiah, brought by al-Arqam, which had been published as heretical and deviant in 1994.

The second is to believe that the founder of al-Arqam Ashaari Muhammad, who died in 2010, is not dead, but unseen.

He said the committee also decided that the economic system developed by GISBH followers is not recognized as an Islamic economy and is not in accordance with Sharia law.

In addition, the Muzakarah Committee of the National Council for Islamic Religious Affairs of Malaysia (MKI Fatwa Committee) decided on the legal view on the GISBH doctrine during a meeting on September 23 and 24.

Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Religious Affairs) Datuk Dr. Mohd Na’im Mokhtar, said the legal advice will be submitted for approval to the Council of Rulers, which will meet on October 23 and 24.

Mohd Na’im said that after the Council of Rulers approved the legal opinion, the states will forward it to the state fatwa committees chaired by their respective muftis.

In SELANGORJAIS director Datuk Mohd Shahzihan Ahmad said as many as 108 individuals linked to GISBH who were previously detained by the Selangor Islamic Religious Department (JAIS) may have to undergo a rehabilitation process as part of the punishment.

It is understood that the actions in question are in line with the decision of the Selangor State Fatwa Committee, which ruled that GISBH and its network deviate from the true teachings of Islam.

In SINGAPOREThe Singapore Mualaf Association (MCAS) denied any connection to GISBH or the Al-Arqam Movement after several social media posts linked them to the movement.

President Muhammad Imran Kuna said MCAS, also known as Darul Arqam Singapura, said the association will not hesitate to take action against such moves, including legal action.

Meanwhile, inside KEDAHHome Affairs Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail said the police investigation into the GISBH case was comprehensively conducted from various angles of legal provisions, resulting in the number of arrests of persons linked to the organization and the numbers may change accordingly based of the research.

Saifuddin Nasution said that in the initial phase of the investigation, only four legal provisions involving agencies under the Ministry of Home Affairs were used, but now the investigation has been expanded to ten legal provisions under different agencies of the ministry.

He said that among the laws used in the investigation were the Criminal Code, the Children Act 2001, the Child Sexual Offenses Act 2017, the Organizations Act 1966, the Anti-Trafficking in Persons and Anti-Smoggling of Migrants Act ( ATIPSOM) 2007 and the Birth Registration and Death Registration Act 1957.

Early last September, the Royal Malaysian Police launched a Global Op and raided charity homes across Peninsular Malaysia linked to GISBH as they were suspected of being involved in child exploitation and religious exploitation activities.

The raid successfully rescued a total of 572 victims and led to the arrest of 359 GISBH followers, including top management.

— BERNAMA

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