KUALA LUMPUR: The ongoing controversy surrounding the exploitation of children and religion linked to GISB Holdings Sdn Bhd (GISBH) continues to escalate, with more individuals coming forward on social media to reveal their experiences as former members or associates of the group.
On Friday (Sept 20), a social media user on X, using the alias ‘babblingnia’, disclosed that she was born and raised within the Al-Arqam group, which is connected to GISBH and alleged the presence of deviant teachings fostering fanaticism among its followers.
Following this, on Sunday (Sept 22), the police issued a statement saying they were monitoring any statements made by individuals or parties connected to GISBH on social media.
Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Razarudin Husain said a special task force from the Bukit Aman Criminal Investigation Department had been assigned to monitor these actions on social media.
Meanwhile, Bernama reported that 29 individuals aged between 19 and 62, linked to GISBH, have been remanded for between one and seven days beginning on Sunday to assist in investigations.
The investigations are being carried out under Section 31(a) of the Child Act 2001, the Printing Presses and Publications Act 1984, and the Anti-Trafficking in Persons and Anti-Smuggling of Migrants Act 2007. All the individuals are currently detained at centralised lockups in Shah Alam, Subang Jaya, and Petaling Jaya.
The Islamic Development Department Malaysia director-general Datin Hakimah Mohd Yusoff said the evidence seized during the fourth phase of the operation codenamed Op Global conducted by the police and several other agencies, including the Islamic Department, could serve as supporting evidence to determine the status of the faith of GISBH followers.
She added that this evidence would form the basis for the Report Paper to be discussed and decided at the Muzakarah of the National Council for Islamic Religious Affairs from Sept 24 to 26.
In Kelantan, Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Dr Mohamed Fadzli Hassan said the Kelantan state government had left the matter regarding GISBH to the authorities, as the company had no connection with the state government.
In Negri Sembilan, the Seremban Syariah Lower Court on Sunday granted a bond application by the Negri Sembilan Islamic Religious Affairs Department against the chairman and principal of a religious school in Kuala Pilah believed to be associated with GISBH.
Syariah Judge Nurul Akmar Mohamad Hilmi made the ruling after allowing the application from its enforcement officers against the two suspects, aged 58 and 51, to complete the investigation under Section 22 of the Islamic Religious Schools (Negri Sembilan) Control Enactment 1996 and Section 52 of the Syariah Criminal Offences Enactment (Negri Sembilan) 1992 (Amendment 2019).
The judge set the bond at RM2,000 with two guarantors residing in Negri Sembilan for both suspects, with the next mention of the case scheduled for Nov 12.
In Terengganu, Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Samsuri Mokhtar said the decision to suspend or revoke GISBH's business licence in Terengganu would depend on the resolution of the Muzakarah.
He stated that the matter would be decided after the Muzakarah meeting, which is expected to be held in the state soon.
Terengganu Islamic Religious Department Enforcement Deputy Commissioner Aizi Saidi Abdul Aziz, said that 13 horses at a horse training centre linked to GISBH in Kampung Mengabang Panjang, Kuala Nerus, were found marked with the GISBH logo during a raid by the police on Saturday (Sept 21).
He mentioned that some of the logos were observed on the upper part of the horses’ front legs, as reported to him by the police.
In Perlis, the Perlis Islamic Religious Affairs Department seized 63 items believed to be part of deviant spiritual teachings during a joint operation at two premises believed to be linked to GISBH in the state on Saturday.
Its director Najmuddin Abdul Karim said the integrated operation related to Op Global involved its enforcement division in collaboration with the police and other agencies.
In Kedah, Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor said the state government was leaving it entirely to the authorities to handle enforcement actions and investigations related to individuals and premises linked to GISBH in the state.
He added that legal action should be taken against them if any offences were found.
In Selangor, the chairman of the Selangor Islamic Religious Council, Tan Sri Abdul Aziz Mohd Yusof, said the Selangor Mufti Department would convene on Sept 30 to decide on the status of GISBH in the state after receiving a report from the Selangor Islamic Religious Department at the Religious Council meeting on Sept 24. - Bernama
