By M. Krishnamoorthy – The Government and police are investigating Global Ikhwan Service and Business Holdings (GISB) assets and business premises.The private Muslim conglomerate is worth about RM325 million worldwide.
Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Razarudin Husain said this would be done on more company assets. “Insya Allah (the police) will investigate. There are stages in the investigation,” he told a local malay daily. Razarudin said that police have frozen 96 bank accounts with over half a million-ringgit linked to GISB. The Anti-Money Laundering Criminal Investigation (AMLA) Unit was also investigating GISB’s finances. Since February 2019, Jakim, always under the PM’s department, during the rule of four Prime Ministers had not taken action against GISB.
The question on Malaysians’ minds is, it has been more than 5.5 years to act. If the four PMs did not act, who did the cover-up? Thanks to the King who ordered a full probe now. On 17th September 2024, His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim, King of Malaysia, ordered the police to conduct a comprehensive investigation into alleged criminal elements and child abuse in welfare homes linked to GISB. The company’s chief executive officer and his wife are among 19 people who have been remanded since 20th September to facilitate investigations. The probe by police follows the raids on 20 welfare homes owned by the company. GISB is at the centre of a police probe for child exploitation, abuse and sexual crimes.
The private Muslim conglomerate, with assets totalling approximately RM325 million worldwide, had built a network of 415 business outlets across 20 countries in Asia, Europe, Africa and Australasia. Founded in 2010 from the remnants of the Al Arqam Group, GISB boasts an impressive annual revenue of RM187 million, rivalling that of many public-listed companies.
The group has 5,346 employees under its 25 subsidiaries. Among its prized assets are a desert oasis in Saudi Arabia, restaurants in London, Paris, Istanbul, Dubai and Makkah, accommodations in Turkiye, a hotel in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and a 48.56ha estate in Perth.
Police have also received information that the welfare homes under the company have outside sponsors besides GISB.
His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim viewed the various reports circulating in the media seriously. “The Islamic creed (akidah) must be protected at all times and should not be taken lightly.” His Majesty said in a post on his official Facebook page on Tuesday (17th September 2024).
The King, then Sultan of Johor in October 2017 ordered the state Islamic Religious Department (JAIJ) to stop dealing with the Malaysian Islamic Development Department or Jakim. Last week, PMX Anwar Ibrahim called for swift investigations.
The Malaysian Islamic Development Department (Jakim) refuted claims that it had failed to address issues surrounding GISB Sdn Bhd. Its director-general Datin Hakimah Mohd Yusoff said in a statement the department had been since Feb 2019 taking action on GISB. Jakim also declared it has NO enforcement powers, but has coordinated the meetings among enforcement agencies since 2019. Datin Hakimah said action against GISB began in February 2019 and included meetings, workshops, special task forces, and collaborations with national security agencies, according to a report published by a local english daily.
What was Jakim’s action for over 5.5 years?
• Holding 12 meetings with GISB
• Actions taken against GISB included workshops
• Special task forces
• National programmes involving security agencies
• National Security Council, Home Ministry and the police acted for 5.5 years.
Hakimah added that in February last year, another special meeting was held, between the Jakim experts panel, the police and GISB followers.
“A meeting with GISB’s chief executive officer, Datuk Nasiruddin Mohd Ali, was held in February this year to further investigate issues relating to faith, shariah, and Sufism issues within the group,” she said in a statement.
Malaysians are asking:
• Why did the four PMs not act
• Jakim is under the PM’s Department
• Religious authorities also failed
• Why was a deviation of faith allowed?
• Why were alleged sexual abuses allowed for 5.5 years?
• Perlis Mufti: Why was no action taken?
• Zaid Ibrahim: Why allow a Sodomy epidemic?
Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Religious Affairs) Datuk Dr Mohd Na’im Mokhtar said a special committee would conduct a thorough investigation and study of GISB’s doctrines to eradicate deviant teachings.
What for 5.5 years? Which of the four PMs ordered the cover up?
Earlier, Perlis Mufti Datuk Dr Mohd Asri Zainul Abidin said in a video that the GISB issue had been presented to various parties, including Jakim and enforcement authorities, but no action had been taken. On Sept 11, police rescued 402 children from 20 homes connected to GISB during a raid, leading to 171 arrests. Razarudin said the victims, who were locals, had endured various forms of exploitation and abuse including being sodomised.
Meanwhile, popular actor and comedian Harith Iskander ripped apart GISB executive chairperson and CEO Nasiruddin Mohd Ali’s response to the police raid on the organisation’s homes, which have been accused of grooming children to commit sexual acts.
Harith was also far from amused with Nasiruddin describing the situation in GISBH following the police’s action as “worse than in Gaza”.
“Sorry, if anybody tries to divert (attention from) whatever is happening to them and compares it to Gaza, as if they are (the) victims. That does not fly with me,” he said.
Freelance Writer M. Krishnamoorthy (www.imkrishna.net) is a media coach, adjunct professor and undercover journalist. He has freelanced with popular local media. He also freelances as a fixer/coordinator for CNN, BBC, German and Australian Television networks and the New York Times. As an undercover journalist, he has highlighted society’s concerns.
